This does not remedy privacy issues, but in general is more democratic way of doing things. Card payment cap also effectively killed cashback cards and premium credit cards that largerly favour rich.
True, they try to compensate by pulling some other shitties. Like the old "Do you want to pay in your home currency?" crap.
Worst are ATMs, which offer you to "conveniently guarantee a fixed exchange rate", which can be over 10% of the amount retrieved and - needless to say - which you should never accept.
They do the same for US cards. EU regulation states that you need to at least give this choice for a consumer, and they cannot force you to take bad exchange rate. If I recall correctly EU might have given a slap on the wrist for AirBnB, as an US company, for not complying with this and forcing to pick bad USD rate. (I do not have source now, on mobile). So overall I think we can agree EU system with regulation is vastly better and less crooked for anybody else expect card issuers and payment processors.
1) Bank account is a right https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/financial-pr...
2) debit and credit card fees are capped very low http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/no-credit-debit-card-fees-e...
This does not remedy privacy issues, but in general is more democratic way of doing things. Card payment cap also effectively killed cashback cards and premium credit cards that largerly favour rich.