Meta confirms: “Facebook and Instagram will remain in Europe”
A few days ago, Meta threatened to no longer offer Facebook and Instagram in EU countries. This would happen if the European Commission proposed its stricter data protection rules. Now Meta explicitly states that they have no plans to leave Europe and will continue to operate there.
Stricter rules
Earlier this week, Meta threatened that they would no longer operate in Europe if the European Commission proposed stricter data protection rules. This so-called ‘Data Act’ would ensure that the data of Europeans would have to be processed on European servers. In A report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission wrote to Meta that they threaten to remove Instagram and Facebook from EU countries if these rules come into effect.
No plan to leave
However, this Tuesday, the company shared an official blog post stating that they have no plans whatsoever to take Facebook and Instagram out of Europe. Uncertainty over the replacement of the old transatlantic privacy agreement between the United States and the European Union was cited as a reason for a possible withdrawal from Europe. Those agreements governed the exchange of data between the United States of America and the European Union (and Switzerland). Both agreements have been quashed by the European Court of Justice over fears of processing EU citizens’ data on US servers.
“Meta does not want or “threaten” to leave Europe, and any reporting that suggests we do is simply not true. Like 70 other companies in the EU and the US, we identify a business risk due to uncertainty about international data transfers.”
It is not the first time that Meta threatens to leave the European market. This time, however, the company explicitly mentions Facebook and Instagram.
Lawsuits against Meta
In recent years, meta has faced a number of lawsuits in the European market. These lawsuits forced the company to spend billions of dollars to settle them. Recently, French data regulator CNIL forced Meta to pay $68 million in fines for privacy violations. The CNIL says Meta, in addition to Google, has restricted users in France from refusing cookie tracking technology.
The departure of Facebook and Instagram from Europe may cause concern to users, but European lawmakers seem to welcome the move. “I can confirm that life is very good without Facebook and that we would live very well without Facebook,” said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. “Digital giants must understand that the European continent will resist and affirm its independence.” he added.
Do you want to stay informed of the latest news about Meta? then download our android app and follow us facebook† Instagram† YouTube† Telegram and Twitter†
