Can anyone explain why yahoo.co.jp is not available in Europe?

14 comments

1. Sound like a GDPR issue

2. They dont really answer it but I’m guessing it’s cos of the General Data Protection Regulation

3. Because Japanese corporations are dog shit when it comes to making changes and would rather burn themselves to the ground before submitting to outside pressure. Or GDPR, you can call it that too.

4. It’s the same with all Japanese app on Android PlayStore right? Always wondered why.

5. [deleted]

6. It will cost more to comply with GDPR in the region. Since the number of users are not worth it they are dropping support. Makes sense business wise as it has a primarily Japanese userbase.

7. You can use a VPN to get around it

8. ‘Cuz 誠に申し訳ございません

9. There are many Japanese websites like this, which is a pain in the arse for anyone travelling often.

10. TL;DR: it’s a profit/loss decision by YJ. Cutting EU users off is cheaper.

    Yahoo Japan is an advertising company first and foremost. Complying with GDPR cuts into their bottom line by limiting their ability to advertise, therefore, they don’t want to comply. Their policy was to geo-locate and localization filter data and only use domestic data accessed in Japanese specifically to avoid both non-Japanese in Japan, and all users outside of Japan.

    Source: me. I worked at a crash analytics company inside the YJ umbrella (now known as Z Holdings) until not too terribly long ago which provided raw data to Yahoo Japan.

11. VPN time

12. I’d guess GDPR. Every company I’ve worked with has just chosen to ignore it.

13. Can’t you just use a VPN?

14. Makes me want to move to Europe a little ngl.