German users look into the tube

Instagram-owned Twitter replica Threads is about to launch. However, the app will not be available in the European Union, as has only just been made clear. Concerns about data protection should be the reason for this. The responsible Data Protection Commission rejects the blame.

Threads: Twitter alternative not in the EU

With the Threads app, the Instagram provider Meta wants to offer its own alternative to Twitter. The app is scheduled to be released for Android and iOS on July 6th. However, users in the EU look into the tube, because threads will appear to be Released only in the US and UK. Obstacles around the stricter data protection in the EU are said to be the reason for this.

According to media reports, the responsible Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland does not expect Threads to be offered to EU users “in the foreseeable future”. Meta is said to have informed the DPC about this. The data protection authority points out that it did not issue a ban itself, but that the decision was made by Meta (source: Independent.ie).

It’s already about that second operation of this kind lately. Google had also postponed the EU launch of its AI chatbot Bard because it does not appear to be GDPR compliant.

It is still unclear to what extent EU users can be locked out of the new meta app at all. Rumor has it that threads to the Fediverse via the ActivityPub protocol and the free Twitter alternative Mastodon. So Mastodon users could still communicate with Threads users, albeit not switching to the meta platform itself.

You can see more about the decentralized Twitter alternative Mastodon in the video:

Threads: Twitter chaos as good timing

Meta should play into the hands of the chaotic circumstances on Twitter. After Elon Musk recently even restricted access to tweets, some users could now start looking for an alternative.