I was wondering why more websites weren't already doing this when SOPA/PIPA were on the horizon.
The US has a problem with politics and when that problem endangers the internet, to me at least, the simplest solution is to block US users.
It has got to be tempting now for site owners, especially considering how US courts do not seem to have much trouble seizing websites. If the site isn't US facing surely that would put a big dent in any legal action made stateside.
The problem is still the huge percentage of American traffic on the web. E.g. on Iconfinder.com about 50% are US users, so blocking them would hurt ad income by about the same amount.
The US population is roughly 11% of all internet users.
If the current political trends continue to the point it jeopardizes my business, and creates unnecessary risk, I would have no problem blocking ±10% of my users, right then and there.
I sell a Windows app. Americans may be only 11% of the population, but they're about 50% of my customer base. They buy licenses, which gives me incentive to continue working on the software. The Russian and Indian bloggers (for example) who have reviewed my app positively have moved the needle very slightly, if at all. No chance I'd give up my US customers willingly.
The US has a problem with politics and when that problem endangers the internet, to me at least, the simplest solution is to block US users.
It has got to be tempting now for site owners, especially considering how US courts do not seem to have much trouble seizing websites. If the site isn't US facing surely that would put a big dent in any legal action made stateside.