Why Am I Blocked? The Real Reasons US Websites Restrict European Users
It's a common and frustrating experience: you try to visit a website, only to be met with a cryptic message stating you've been blocked for security reasons. A user trying to access the US-based retailer Half Price Books from Denmark encountered this exact issue, which sparked a conversation about the underlying causes.
Initially, the user was presented with a generic Cloudflare security block, suggesting they had performed a malicious action. However, a subsequent attempt revealed a more truthful, albeit still unhelpful, 403 error from Amazon CloudFront, which stated, "The Amazon CloudFront distribution is configured to block access from your country." This confirmed the issue was a deliberate geographical block, not a fault of the user.
Why Do Websites Geo-Block Entire Countries?
The primary culprit behind many US companies blocking European traffic is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Rather than investing the resources to ensure their websites are fully compliant with GDPR's strict data privacy and handling requirements, some companies find it simpler and safer to block access from the entire region. This is a business decision to mitigate legal risk, but it often results in a poor user experience.
The Problem with Vague Error Messages
A major point of frustration is the lack of transparency in the blocking process. Security services like Cloudflare are often configured with broad rules that geofence regions. When a user is blocked, the default message can be accusatory, blaming a "malicious action" when the real reason is simply the user's location. A much better practice would be to display a clear message explaining the situation, such as, "We're sorry, our services are not currently available in your country."
Are There Alternatives?
For the specific problem of selling used books from within the EU, the discussion provided a helpful alternative:
- Biblio: This platform was recommended as a good option for European users, as it appears to serve the market that US-centric sites like Half Price Books ignore.
Ultimately, while geo-blocking may be a valid business decision, the lack of clear communication turns potential customers away and creates unnecessary confusion and frustration.