Meta Inc.’s Threads app will not be available in the European Union due to stricter privacy laws. While the app can be downloaded in the U.S and other markets, it will not be accessible in European Union countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland, and Belgium. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is currently working on establishing regulations for data sharing between Threads and Instagram. This decision comes as Meta and other tech companies, self-designated as ‘gatekeepers’ under the Digital Markets Act, face potential stricter regulations surrounding data sharing and preference for their own products. Recently, the top EU court ruled against Meta in a data privacy case, highlighting the company’s ability to link data across platforms and target advertising. The German watchdog also prohibited Meta from merging personal data from Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, citing an abuse of its dominant position in the market. Threads, seen as a direct competitor to Twitter, is the latest development in the ongoing rivalry between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. The two billionaires have exchanged insults and even considered a real-life mixed martial arts cage fight in Las Vegas. For more information, read the full article on The Hindu website.
