Access to a news website, abcfoxmontana.com, has been blocked for users within the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Union (EU) due to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Visitors attempting to reach the site receive a message stating that access is restricted because of GDPR enforcement. The message directs users experiencing issues to contact the newsroom via email at newsroom@abcfoxmontana.com or by phone at 406-542-8900.
The GDPR, enacted by the EU in May 2018, establishes rules governing the processing of personal data. It applies to organizations processing data of individuals located within the specified regions, regardless of the organization’s location. Violations can result in substantial fines, up to 4% of annual global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher.
The EEA encompasses the 27 EU member states – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden – as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The United Kingdom, although no longer an EU member, has also incorporated GDPR principles into its national law as the UK GDPR.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), established by the GDPR, is responsible for ensuring consistent application of the regulation across the EU/EEA. It comprises representatives from national data protection authorities and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). The European Commission participates in the EDPB’s activities but does not have voting rights.
The specific reasons for abcfoxmontana.com’s decision to block access from the EEA/EU have not been publicly disclosed. The website’s response does not indicate whether it intends to implement measures to achieve GDPR compliance or if the blockage is a permanent measure.
