Threads, Meta’s upcoming rival to Twitter, is scheduled for launch on July 6th in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, due to stricter privacy laws in the European Union (EU), Threads will not be released in the EU at this time, according to a report by the Independent.
The EU’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has been in contact regarding the new service but confirmed that it won’t be available in the EU for now. It’s important to note that Threads hasn’t been blocked in the EU; Meta simply hasn’t developed a version of the app that complies with the region’s more stringent privacy regulations.
The main issue appears to be the integration of data across Meta’s products. Meta has the ability to merge data streams within the United States, which is not the case for the EU. Since Threads will be closely connected to Meta’s Instagram platform, utilizing the same user accounts and collecting extensive user data, this becomes a potential stumbling block for an EU launch.
According to sources close to Meta, cited by the publication, the company is delaying the launch of Threads due to the lack of clarity surrounding the EU’s Digital Markets Act and its restrictions on data sharing among platforms. The DPC had previously prevented Meta from introducing advertising in WhatsApp that relied on data from other Meta products such as Facebook and Instagram.
At this stage, it remains uncertain when or if Meta will expand Threads to the EU.
Despite the pending EU launch, the Threads app has already made its appearance on both the App Store and Play Store, providing information about the data it can collect and link to users. This includes health and fitness data, purchase history, location information, financial details, and more. Although Instagram collects similar data, the privacy concerns surrounding Threads have gained attention. Interestingly, even though Twitter collects comparable data, fans of Elon Musk and Twitter are amplifying the privacy issue.
To summarize, Meta’s competitor to Twitter, Threads—an app associated with Instagram—will debut on July 6th in the US and UK. However, its availability in the rest of Europe, including the EU, is uncertain.
Meta has not yet prepared Threads for a European launch due to the region’s privacy regulations, and the delay may also be influenced by the EU’s forthcoming Digital Markets Act. The app’s connection to Instagram infrastructure and its potential data importation from Instagram are among the concerns in ensuring compliance with the EU’s strict privacy standards.
Meanwhile, the launch of Threads coincides with ongoing problems faced by Twitter, leading many active users to seek alternative platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon. Despite reservations about CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s privacy record, some users consider Threads a viable option due to Meta’s extensive reach.