New to Shacknews? Signup for a Free Account

Already have an account?

Video Game Release Dates 2024Elden Ring strategy guideShacknews Direct: Introducing Bubbletron!Destiny 2 Complete Strategy Guide
Video Game Release Dates 2024
Elden Ring strategy guide
Shacknews Direct: Introducing Bubbletron!
Destiny 2 Complete Strategy Guide

Meta threatens Facebook shutdown in Europe, leaders respond they'd be better off

Meta is concerned about legislation affecting storage of European Facebook users' data on US servers. EU leaders aren't backing down.
TJ Denzer
TJ Denzer
2

Fairly recently, Meta warned European leaders that legislation blocking the company from transferring, storing, and processing Europeans’ data on US-based servers may force the company to shut down Facebook and Instagram on the continent. Meta has found itself back against the wall on multiple fronts when it comes to the use of user data, but it sounds like the European Union isn’t going to be cowtowing to the threat of losing Facebook service across the continent. Some leaders have even claimed it would be a good thing.

EU leaders responded to Meta’s threat of shutting down Facebook on the continent recently, as reported by EuroNews. Meta lobbied its complaint against EU legislation in an annual report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In said report, Meta suggested that the ongoing legislative stance against its use and storing of European Facebook user data made current agreement models untenable and, as such, it would be forced to close Facebook and Instagram service on the continent if the rules were not changed.

Meta has faced numerous issues with access to user data from legislation in the EU, as well as via Apple products following the app data protection options introduced in iOS 14.5.
Meta has faced numerous issues with access to user data from legislation in the EU, as well as via Apple products following the app data protection options introduced in iOS 14.5.

In response to Meta’s threat to remove Facebook and Instagram from service in Europe, several EU leaders shared that not only would they not back down from the threat, but that life would be better without the two platforms.

“After I was hacked I have lived without Facebook and Twitter for four years and life has been fantastic," Germany’s new economy minister Robert Habeck told reporters.

“I can confirm that life would be very good without Facebook and that we would live very well without Facebook,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire added.

This also follows on the back of the Facebook company (still transferring to Meta)  taking a major hit after a troubling Q4 2021 earnings report. In addition to some important misses such as lower Daily Active Users in the quarter, Meta executives suggested that the company will continue to see issues in data monetization due to the iOS 14.5 update that allowed users to stop app data tracking.

With Facebook and Meta taking hits on all sides, it may very well be that the company has to decide on whether or not it will truly shut down Facebook and Instagram services for the entire European continent. Whatever the case, it would appear that EU leaders are not going to easily kowtow to the threat.

Senior News Editor
Senior News Editor

TJ Denzer is a player and writer with a passion for games that has dominated a lifetime. He found his way to the Shacknews roster in late 2019 and has worked his way to Senior News Editor since. Between news coverage, he also aides notably in livestream projects like the indie game-focused Indie-licious, the Shacknews Stimulus Games, and the Shacknews Dump. You can reach him at tj.denzer@shacknews.com and also find him on Twitter @JohnnyChugs.

Filed Under
From The Chatty
Refresh Go To Thread
Hello, Meet Lola