Meta Is Closing Down Threads In Turkey After A Court Order Related To Sharing Data With Instagram

Social media giant Meta is facing another regulatory hurdle, this time in Turkey . The company announced it will be "temporarily" shutting down its close friends app, Threads , in the country starting April 29th. This decision comes after the Turkish Competition Authority ( TCA ) issued an interim injunction against Meta over its data-sharing practices between Threads and Instagram .

Why the Shutdown? A Data Sharing DisputeThe TCA took issue with Meta's automatic linking of user data between Threads and Instagram, arguing it happened without user consent. They believe this practice "will lead to irreparable harms" and constitutes an "abuse of dominant position" by Meta within the Turkish market. The TCA further suspects this linking exists primarily to boost Meta's overall "market power."

Rather than modify the data integration between the two apps in Turkey, Meta has chosen to pull the plug on Threads altogether. The company insists this is a temporary measure while they appeal the injunction, but no timeline for that process has been revealed. In the meantime, Meta advises Turkish users to either deactivate or entirely delete their Threads accounts. Deactivation allows users to potentially restore their posts and interactions "if Threads returns" to Turkey.

This controversy isn't the first time Meta's data-sharing practices have raised eyebrows.

Here's a quick recap:

• 2022: Turkey fined Meta a hefty $18.6 million for combining user data across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This was seen as a violation of the country's competition laws.
• Ongoing Fines: Following the initial fine, Turkey requested documentation from Meta detailing their efforts to address the data-sharing violation. Dissatisfied with the response, Turkish regulators imposed additional daily fines of $160,000.
  

The TCA's investigation, which concluded in March 2024, highlighted concerns about the data advantage Meta possesses due to its established user base and diverse demographics. This, they argue, makes Meta's services more attractive for advertisers, ultimately creating an "entry barrier" for potential competitors.

A History of Regulatory Battles for MetaThis isn't the first time Meta has faced regulatory pushback in Europe. Here are some notable examples:

• 2021: Meta was hit with a massive $267 million fine for breaching GDPR with WhatsApp in the European Union (EU).

2023: The company was forced to sell Giphy, which it acquired for $400 million, to Shutterstock for a mere $53 million. This divestiture decision stemmed from antitrust concerns within the EU market.

Threads: A Short-Lived Experiment?Launched in 2023, Threads aimed to capitalize on the exodus of Twitter users following Elon Musk's takeover. Despite its reported 130 million user base, Meta has faced consistent criticism for requiring users to create an Instagram account just to have a Threads profile. Initially, deleting a Threads profile meant deleting the linked Instagram account as well – a practice later addressed by Meta.

Interestingly, Meta previously delayed the launch of Threads in the EU to comply with regulations and implemented a "view without profile" feature. This allowed EU users limited access to the network without creating an account.

The Road Ahead: Appeal and User OptionsMeta strongly disagrees with the TCA's interim order and maintains they comply with all Turkish legal requirements. They will be appealing the decision while hoping to "bring Threads back to people in Türkiye as quickly as possible."

In the lead-up to the April 29th shutdown, all Threads users in Turkey will receive notification and the option to either delete or deactivate their profiles. Deactivation offers the possibility of reviving their profiles if and when Threads returns to the Turkish market.

This situation highlights the ongoing tension between data privacy concerns and the business models of major tech companies. As the story unfolds, it will be interesting to see the outcome of Meta's appeal and the future of Threads in Turkey.