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Will GDPR save us from the products on this list?

Yes, and it will also give more insight in what and how they collect and process your data.

GDPR would be a nice "tool" to validate the actual deletion of personal data.

Yes, but only EU companies have to comply, and those who by extension is subject to the same rules by treaty, mainly the EEA and EFTA as well.

The GDPR applies to the data of anyone using a service while in the EU, not just to companies that are based in the EU.

While technically true, if the EU has no jurisdiction over you or your business, it's difficult for them to force compliance.

Another example of this is sales tax in the US. Several states have laws that tell the seller to collect and remit sales tax on any sales to residents within the state. But for sellers that have no physical presence in that state, the state has no ability to force them to actually do so (or to force them to open up their books and prove one way or the other).

For most large tech companies EU is their biggest or second biggest market. The fines are large, so it will be in their interest to comply.

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