Threads App May Completely Avoid EU: Why Meta May Restrict Availability Of Twitter Alternative?

Twitter is currently fending off a backlash from multiple segments, including businesses, users, and app developers. Hence, several alternatives to the micro-blogging social media platform have cropped up and are gaining traction.

Threads, Meta's answer to Twitter is now available to the general public on the iOS or Android app stores. However, the platform might not be welcomed by potential users as well as countries that prioritize user privacy. Let's see why Meta is hesitant in launching its Threads app in the EU.

Threads App Is A Privacy Nightmare?

Threads app is a new platform that Meta has been readying for some time now. Superficially, the platform appears to be a worthy competitor to Twitter.

Meta may not launch the Threads app in the EU, reported multiple reputed publications such as the Irish Independent and the Guardian. Interestingly, Meta's lead regional data protection supervisor has confirmed that the Threads platform won't launch "at this point".

Meta has reportedly delayed an EU launch of Threads presumably because it might not ever be able to comply with the regional limits on sharing user data across different platforms. The Irish DPC has indicated that Meta has "no plans to launch in the EU yet".

Meta is already struggling with the EU's GDPR regulations. Moreover, information disclosed about the Threads app's Privacy Policies, which is part of the mandatory disclosures for apps that may be available for the Apple iPhone, is quite worrying.

The Privacy Policy disclosure shows the Threads app may collect highly sensitive information about users in order to profile their digital activity. Some of the information that the Threads app may collect includes health and financial data, precise location, browsing history, contacts, search history, and other sensitive information.

Meta Increasingly In EU's Antitrust And Data Privacy Advocates

Currently, Meta does not even offer users a general, up-front choice to deny tracking and profiling, let alone explicitly ask them if it can share data on health conditions. Combined with increasingly stringent limits on surveillance ads expected in the EU, any app that plans to track nearly everything possible primarily to maximize its appeal to advertisers, would invariably lock horns with regional regulators with an infinitely small chance of winning.

Meta has been increasingly facing scrutiny and potential fines from the EU. The company is trying hard to change public perception and opinion. However, it is an uphill task. Under such an atmosphere, Meta might completely avoid the EU, at least for the Threads app.