Thanks to Threads, Meta just got bigger. Should we be concerned?
Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, launched its new app Threads this month. Despite scrutiny from various competition authorities over Meta’s contentious acquisition strategies, Threads’ in-house development is seen as a positive move.
However, the introduction of Threads has brought up questions about data protection and privacy regulation within the European Union (EU). The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) poses a possible challenge for Meta as it focuses on large digital platforms that are deemed to have gatekeeper status. The DMA contains restrictions on combining personal data acquired across different services operated by a gatekeeper without explicit user consent.
Due to concerns that its current data practices may not comply with DMA rules, Meta has decided to postpone the launch of Threads within the EU indefinitely. This move demonstrates both the influence of regulation on how big tech companies like Meta develop their business activities and also highlights potential drawbacks such as denying EU consumers access to new products in the short term.
Source: Thanks to Threads, Meta just got bigger. Should we be concerned? | Niamh Dunne | The Guardian
