— Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) May 25, 2018
If you checked your junk e-mail folder over the holiday weekend and asked, “Why is everyone telling me about their updated privacy policy?” you aren’t alone. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became enforceable last Friday (two years after it was officially adopted), updating the laws regarding data privacy and data protection for everyone in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). Even if you aren’t living there, you were likely inundated with privacy policy updates anyway.
Despite companies having two years to prepare, many of them waited until the last day, flooding our inboxes with long policy updates nobody has time to read. Inevitably, people have been making jokes about the shared inconvenience.
Along with the Star Wars reference above, another Star Wars joke was made by Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson:
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) May 24, 2018
People also combined their privacy policy jokes with other recently popular memes, like the angry American Chopper guys:
This is my favorite. #GDPRday pic.twitter.com/fQrz2K6NHQ
— Whitney Merrill (@wbm312) May 25, 2018
And the Captain America “So you got detention” meme:
So,
You've updated your privacy policy. pic.twitter.com/3iIWOiF6iD
— The Bun Squad (@Zenith_BunSquad) May 27, 2018
And the “Is this a pigeon?” meme:
Privacy policy updates were popping up everywhere:
https://twitter.com/nadimpatel_/status/999111866633871361
https://twitter.com/iamburtjarvis/status/1000188671704928256
Me: Alexa, tell me about your new privacy policy.
Alexa: Your next door neighbor said you guys were hillbillies.
— Just Bill (@WilliamAder) May 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/pattymo/status/1000471424509841408
Finds deserted island
a message in a bottle washes onto the beach
*opens bottle*
We’ve updated our Privacy Policy
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) May 24, 2018
Other people on Twitter used the GDPR as a handy excuse to shut down uncomfortable lines of inquiry:
https://twitter.com/mairanotmaria2/status/1000213414680121345
Parents: "Why don't you tell us anything anymore?"
Me: "We've updated our Privacy Policy."
— Ayesha (@ayeshussain_) May 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/dracomallfoys/status/1000024426484764672
https://twitter.com/CrankThatFrank/status/1000076160313643009
And there were numerous references to movies, including Independence Day, The Little Mermaid, Pacific Rim, and The Fugitive.
https://twitter.com/pattymo/status/1000777178269782016
“We’ve updated our privacy policy” pic.twitter.com/ltH1hQ9jbO
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) May 27, 2018
In the beginning the privacy policy updates were spaced by twenty-four weeks, then twelve, then six, then every two weeks. The last one was a week. In four days, we could be seeing privacy policy updates every eight hours until they are coming every four minutes.
— B.K. 🦬🛼 (@brainconfetti) May 25, 2018
“OUR PRIVACY POLICY HAS CHANGED.”
“I don’t care.” pic.twitter.com/DJaeElU4lY— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) May 26, 2018
Video game references also made an appearance, specifically The Legend of Zelda series:
— WiNY ʕ ᵔᴥᵔ ʔ (@win0g) May 26, 2018
— Chris Allcock (@taskbaarchitect) May 25, 2018
The jokes continued throughout the holiday weekend:
My old bikini wax salon sent me an email saying they care about my privacy. I should think so too #GDPRday
— Hel Reynolds (@HelReynolds) May 24, 2018
We here at jacksfilms have NOT updated our privacy policy. In fact, your privacy is worse than ever. We watch you pee
— jacksfilms (@jacksfilms) May 28, 2018
— James Munson (@moneymunson1981) May 26, 2018
dad: matt, we need to talk
me: oh my god dad we haven't spoken in years
dad: matt, I am updating my privacy policy
— The Oatmeal (@Oatmeal) May 28, 2018
[robber breaks into my apartment]
me: we have updated our privacy policy
robber: ah shit lol ok good night— Bob Vulfov (@bobvulfov) May 25, 2018
Just received an email from a Nigerian prince. He hasn't got any fortunes for me at the moment, but he'd like to know if I'd still like to receive his emails about future fortunes after 25th May… #GDPR #GDPRday
— Kathryn (@katie2779) May 24, 2018
Really looking forward to using the four-day holiday weekend to dig into all these new privacy policy emails. Thanks, Internet.
— Tim Siedell (@badbanana) May 25, 2018
And some of the privacy policy updates were downright eerie:
*finds old Ouija board*
"I don't know guys, that stuff is dark–"
"What's the worst that could happen?"
"Spirits of the dead give us your message!"
W-E-H-A
"Guys–"
"Shut up"
W-E-H-A-V-E-U
"Guys–"
"Keep going"
W-E-H-A-V-E-U-P-D-A-T-E-D-O-U-R-P-R-I-V-A-C-Y-P-O-L-I-C-Y
— Logan (@TheLoganTrent) May 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/zeldawilliams/status/1000824162183593984
That. Is. Freaking. Insane. pic.twitter.com/aAyUkWe6Wm
— Amir Rajan (@amirrajan) May 28, 2018