Meta details why Instagram Threads is not available in Europe

HeyTopics on Instagram, an alternative to Meta Twitter, is a resounding success. The platform has already gained over 100 million users since its launch on July 6th. And all this despite the fact that it is not available in some markets. In fact, in Europe, users cannot download the app or register – at least not officially, as there are alternative ways to do so. AND there is a reasonas confirmed by the company itself.

Kristin Pai, spokesperson for Meta, highlighted edge that Instagram Threads is currently unavailable in Europe in connection with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). More specifically, because Meta has to make sure it meets the aforementioned rule before launching a product. In other words, companies are not prohibited from activating the service in Europe. In fact, they plan to do so, but the DMA measures are forcing Meta to check more carefully to ensure that both the application and the options included in it comply with European regulations.

The Digital Markets Act, in particular, is full of measures that affect companies that are considered “gatekeepers”. These are the ones that exceed the user base and have a “strong economic position”. That is, companies like Google, TikTok or Meta. The measures are mostly designed to prevent abuse or take advantage of their dominant market position and don’t let smaller competitors grow unfairly.

Instagram Threads violate important DMA metric

At the moment, the streams, according to Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, violate several provisions of the Digital Markets Act. The main one is one that prohibits companies from mixing user data between their various services in order to display relevant ads based on their interests. Instagram themes, in a sense, forces users to log into their Instagram account. In this way, they match enough data to be able to collect more accurate user information such as username, profile, and other relevant data.

The Digital Markets Act allows companies to offer users the ability to choose whether they want their personal information to be combined between different services. However, Instagram Threads does not offer any registration options other than connecting the user’s Instagram account. In fact, this is one of the features that helped the success of the new social network and, in addition, will greatly benefit Meta.

In the case of Europe, and in order for Instagram streams to be available in this market, The meta should allow users to choose an alternative registration method. to your Instagram account, such as an email address. For now, according to several people in charge of Meta and Instagram, the company is focused on making sure the app is compliant with all EU regulations. Including data protection measures and more.