Privacy Concerns Delay Meta Threads EU Launch

Data privacy concerns delayed Meta Threads’ release in the EU. This text-based social media app is set to be Twitter’s rival.

• The app was launched in the United States and the United Kingdom on July 5, 2023, but has not yet been released in the EU.
• Meta is awaiting further clarification from the European Commission on how the DMA will be implemented before considering its next steps.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has delayed the launch of its Twitter rival, Threads, in the European Union (EU) due to concerns about the app’s data privacy practices.

Meta Threads is a text-based social media app that allows users to share photos, videos, and stories with a select group of followers. It was launched in the U.S. and the U.K. on July 5, 2023, but has not yet been released in the EU.

Meta has said that it is awaiting further clarification from the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, on how the Digital Markets Act (DMA) will be implemented before considering its next steps. The DMA is a new set of rules that are designed to rein in the power of tech giants like Meta.

One of the key provisions of the DMA is that it prohibits gatekeepers, which are companies with a large market share in a particular sector, from mixing the data they collect from users across their different products. This is a concern for Meta because Threads is linked to Instagram, which means that the company could potentially combine data from both platforms.

“It’s not just disclosures and consent. It’s also verifying that there’s no data leakage,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri told The New York Times’ Hard Fork podcast on July 6th. “You have to put in place processes and technology that all but guarantee that anything you say, you can verify; and usually multiple ways.”

Also, Meta is also concerned about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is the EU’s data protection law. The GDPR requires companies to obtain explicit consent from users before collecting or using their personal data. Meta is worried that it may not be able to obtain this consent from users in the EU if it launches Threads.

The delay in the EU launch of Meta Threads is a setback, which is hoping to challenge Twitter’s dominance in the microblogging market. However, the company is likely to continue to work on the app and could eventually launch it in the EU once the regulatory uncertainty is resolved.

In the meantime, Meta is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators around the world. In addition to the DMA and the GDPR, the company is also under investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for alleged antitrust violations.

The delay in the EU launch of Meta Threads is a reminder of the challenges that Meta faces as it tries to expand its reach in Europe. The company will need to carefully navigate the regulatory landscape if it wants to avoid further problems with regulators.

Despite the delay, Threads has been a success so far. The app has been downloaded by over 100 million users in just five days, making it one of the fastest-growing social media apps in history.

Meta Threads’ success is likely due to its focus on privacy and simplicity. The app is designed to be a more intimate and personal way to connect with friends and family. It also has a clean and uncluttered design that is easy to use.

It remains to be seen how Threads will perform in the long term. However, the app’s early success suggests that it has the potential to be a major player in the social media landscape.

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