This is a question of liability. Gitlab's liability, based on whatever internal metrics being measured, would be significantly higher than the potential economic rewards of having employees in sensitive positions in these two countries--at the moment.
Also, on a side note, morality != legality. They're two different things. What is moral isn't necessarily illegal, and vice versa.
There's no need to beat up the strawman "techbro." It seems to me that this was a difficult decision to make and somebody had to make it.
This is a question of liability. Gitlab's liability, based on whatever internal metrics being measured, would be significantly higher than the potential economic rewards of having employees in sensitive positions in these two countries--at the moment.
Also, on a side note, morality != legality. They're two different things. What is moral isn't necessarily illegal, and vice versa.
There's no need to beat up the strawman "techbro." It seems to me that this was a difficult decision to make and somebody had to make it.
Damned if you do; damned if you don't.