> Why do techies forget that the legal system exists?

Simple, the gamble is it often makes business sense to "forget". Initially it could be they are unaware of the specific law but after a certain period of time it can really only be assumed the motivation is it is more convenient to ignore it.

Not all techies are like this.

Until the regulatory system corrects this calculus it will keep happening. Reputational costs or social costs sure wont correct it in this day and age.