[deanhills]

I'm also uncomfortable with online ID verification. I don't think Germany is alone in this though. I won't be surprised if this becomes law eventually so that they can know exactly who owns web space as part of some or other European or international security rule - and of course then say that they are doing it for the protection of every one in Europe. And I guess very soon after that other Governments will follow the same rules and all Data Centers need to keep a register of the owners. Little by little our freedom will become less - but they'll probably still say they are looking after our privacy. And then of course there will also be added costs involved with this kind of verification and maintenance of registers. I always worry when something that is the exception to the norm with identity verification by a large data center that is international - like Hetzner will lead to other Data Centers doing the same thing and making it more and more difficult for your small little guy to get space. The irony of it all is I don't feel safer now than I did a few years ago when it had been much easier to get web space with very little verification.