Yahoo Japan blocks Europe and the UK

It has been a major shift for many companies since the European Union launched initiatives such as the General Data Protection Regulation. However, most of them have chosen to modify and follow the regulations that have been added. However, Yahoo doesn’t seem interested in that. in press release In the Japanese online magazine Itmedia, the internet giant announced that it will be withdrawing from April 6 from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom.

“We have determined that we cannot continue from a cost standpoint of responding to legal compliance. We cannot respond to specific relevant laws and regulations.”

The reason for the company choosing to opt out, and thus actively banning users from these areas, has to do with the legal costs. Yahoo Japan simply doesn’t think it’s cost-effective to comply with EU regulations, especially given how small the user base is in the region.

Yahoo is not ending all services, but intends to continue to keep email, e-books, and payment cards as usual. This decision is valid until further notice, but may change in the future. The remaining services such as Yahoo Premium will not be available to users attempting to connect within the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.

Notably, Yahoo Japan is owned by Softbank and its parent company Z Holdings, and operates as a separate entity from its US counterpart. The decision can even be seen as counterproductive, with regard to the company’s latest venture. This is because Yahoo Japan is currently scaling business, developing an app and investing heavily in expanding the company beyond Japan’s borders.

Do you currently use any Yahoo Japan services? Feel free to discuss the topic!