Lol, when GDPR came out one of our euro devs was threatening to walk out if we didn't put a banner up because he thought he'd be personally fined.

Now it's obvious of course.

Where did I claim cookie banners were mandated by the GDPR? I don't think this is responsive to my comment.

They were/are and entirely predictable response.

The broader issue with GDPR is the benefit it gives incumbents over startups.