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The reason we cannot access these websites is because they do not yet comply with the EU\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect last May. Created and approved by the European Parliament and Council, the GDPR regulates how companies handle the personal data of EU citizens.<\/p>\n
Any business that does not conform to these EU regulations could receive massive penalties. Some, like the L.A. Times,<\/em> are choosing to abandon the EU market.<\/p>\n This is raw imperialism\u2014regulatory<\/em> imperialism. The Oxford Dictionary<\/em> defines imperialism<\/em> as the \u201cpolicy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization.\u201d The EU today is using the GDPR and other regulatory tactics to colonize the Internet.<\/p>\n \u201cEurope wants to conquer the world all over again,\u201d wrote Mark Scott and Laurens Cerulus at Politico earlier this year. \u201cOnly this time, its killer app isn\u2019t steel or gunpowder. [The GDPR is] an EU LEGAL JUGGERNAUT aimed at imposing ever tougher privacy rules on governments and companies from San Francisco to Seoul\u201d (emphasis added).<\/p>\n Using the GDPR, the EU has invaded every home, government and corporation on Earth that uses the Internet. Across the planet, governments and corporations have had to invest millions of dollars and countless manhours to figure out how to respond to and comply with the GDPR.<\/p>\n More than 500 million people live inside the EU; they are relatively wealthy, and more than 85 percent of them have access to the Internet. For many governments, businesses and other organizations, ignoring the European market isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n On the other hand, foreign companies cannot simply ignore GDPR. Failing to comply with the regulations could garner a fine of up to \u20ac20 million (US$22.7 million) or 4 percent of annual global turnover.<\/p>\n In the end, if a government or corporation wants to do business with the European Union, it has only one option: surrender.<\/p>\n The GDPR is not the EU\u2019s only regulatory weapon. In January, the European Parliament is expected to formalize the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. This new law, approved by the Parliament in September, is an extension of the EU\u2019s existing copyright laws, updated to work in today\u2019s world of rapidly evolving digital technologies.<\/p>\n This new EU law is terrifying U.S. technology companies, especially Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Many consider it to be an attempt not only to curb the power of America\u2019s big technology companies, BUT TO LITERALLY TAKE OVER THE INTERNET.<\/p>\n YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said recently that it \u201cposes a threat to both your livelihood and your ability to share your voice with the world.\u201d This month, YouTube rolled out a global campaign seeking to educate people on the alarming consequences of the EU\u2019s copyright directive.<\/p>\n EU bureaucrats say the new law will protect people and content, and perhaps it will. But it also stands to harm people, businesses and, potentially, entire markets and economies, especially in America.<\/em> The legislation is complex and incredibly vague.<\/p>\n This is partly why it is so frightening to the likes of YouTube and Facebook. Ignoring the legislation will result in colossal fines. But for these technology giants and other companies, complying with the legislation will require overhauling major components of their businesses.<\/p>\n There are also many questions about the administration and policing of the EU\u2019s new regulations. At the end of the day, the EU bureaucrats are the ones who will interpret and enforce the law. This gives them incredible power and influence over U.S. tech firms, and over the entire Internet.<\/p>\n There have been other regulatory assaults too. In the last couple of years, Google has been fined more than $7 billion<\/em> by the EU. On Tuesday, consumer groups across Europe asked regulators to investigate Google over claims it is breaching GDPR by allegedly tracking the movements of users. And it\u2019s not just YouTube and Google; Brussels has engaged in similar inquisitions against other Silicon Valley giants, including Facebook and Twitter.<\/p>\n All this is not to say Google, Facebook and America\u2019s big technology companies in general are above reproach. To be sure, there are<\/em> genuine concerns and questions about the behavior of these companies and their inordinate power and reach.<\/p>\n That said, do we really want a handful of anti-American, European bureaucrats trying to solve these problems? We have enough evidence proving that Brussels isn\u2019t acting altruistically, in the best interests of mankind. The EU is clearly attacking America\u2019s influence and trying to establish itself as the king of the Internet.<\/p>\n Even the most distant observer of Bible prophecy has heard the term \u201cmark of the beast.\u201d This mysterious \u201cmark\u201d is mentioned multiple times in the book of Revelation. All sorts of conspiracy theories exist about exactly what this \u201cmark\u201d is, but there is no need for theorizing.<\/p>\n For now, let\u2019s notice Revelation 13. In verse 11, the Apostle John says, \u201cAnd I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.\u201d This beast is also pictured in Revelation 17; in chapter 13, she is riding the seven-headed, 10-horned beast of Revelation 17. These prophecies forecast the end-time formation of a German-led, Catholic-inspired European superstate.<\/p>\n Now notice Revelation 13:16-17. Talking about this European beast power, John writes, \u201cAnd he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: AND THAT NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL, SAVE HE THAT HAD THE MARK, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.\u201d<\/p>\n Notice, this European beast power has a dictatorial global presence (Revelation 17 and 18 prove this too). It has power over \u201cboth small and great, rich and poor, free and bond.\u201d Notice too, the beast power has the influence and power to dictate who is allowed to \u201cbuy and sell,\u201d in other words, to trade, to practice commerce and industry.<\/p>\n The seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire is going to have tremendous regulatory<\/em> and financial<\/em> power. It\u2019s going to REGULATE global business and industry, trade and commerce.<\/p>\n Verses 16-17 clearly show that if people don\u2019t accept this \u201cmark\u201d\u2014if they don\u2019t follow Europe\u2019s rules<\/em>\u2014they will not be allowed to conduct business with this powerful and wealthy European superstate. Does this sound familiar? In spirit, this is what has already happened with the GDPR.<\/p>\n It\u2019s happening with the imminent EU copyright directive. The message behind both these initiatives is clear: Do business our way, submit to our rules, or we will shut you out of our market.<\/em> We have yet to see the literal institution of the \u201cmark of the beast,\u201d BUT THE EU TODAY IS OPERATING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST!<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t this electrifying? The EU right now doesn\u2019t feel like an autocratic, imperialist power. It doesn\u2019t feel like an invasion is underway. When one sees Jean-Claude Juncker shuffling behind the lectern, one isn\u2019t exactly paralyzed with fear.<\/p>\n The EU looks and behaves like a sprawling, unwieldy, bureaucratic mess. And it is, at least in many respects. But it is this perception that makes the EU so dangerous; it is so easy to misread and underestimate. Remember, the beast of Revelation 13:11 looks like a lamb, but speaks and behaves like a dragon<\/em>.<\/p>\n The beast power is rising. Europe\u2019s power and influence is growing. For now, it\u2019s not using tanks and aircraft carriers. Instead, it\u2019s growing its power by creating long documents filled with complex, boring legislation. It\u2019s called regulatory imperialism, and Europe has mastered it.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t believe me, the next time you\u2019re in Europe just visit www.latimes.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2018 Brad Macdonald Managing Editor, theTrumpet.com<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The reason we cannot access these websites is because they do not yet comply with the EU\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect last May. Created and approved by the European Parliament and Council, the GDPR regulates how companies handle the personal data of EU citizens. Any business that does not conform […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":20600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-20599","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lawlessness","8":"wp-image-borders","9":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/THE-BEST-SYSTEM.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4bgnN-5mf","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/71"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20599"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20685,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20599\/revisions\/20685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}So what does all this mean?<\/h4>\n
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