Meta Halts Threads in Turkey Amid Data-Sharing and Monopoly Concerns

Meta will discontinue Threads, its messaging app, in Turkey effective April 29th. The Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) issued an injunction forbidding the automatic sharing of data with Instagram, claiming this practice violated competition laws and gave Meta an unfair advantage. Meta has chosen to withdraw Threads rather than alter its integration with Instagram, and encourages users to either deactivate or delete their accounts. The decision follows ongoing regulatory scrutiny in Turkey, including fines imposed in 2022 for alleged data-sharing violations.

Meta Shuts Down Threads in Turkey Amid Data-Sharing Backlash and Competition Concerns

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Meta has pulled the plug on its Threads app in Turkey, bowing to a court injunction that halted the automatic data-sharing between Threads and Instagram, raising concerns about dominant market practices and user privacy.

The Turkish Competition Authority (TCA), the nation's antitrust watchdog, had issued an interim injunction against Meta alleging that the linking of Threads and Instagram without user consent "will lead to irreparable harms." The TCA also accused Meta of "abusing its dominant position" in the industry by implementing such a practice, suggesting that the linking's primary purpose was to bolster the company's "market power."

Rather than altering the integration between the two platforms within the Turkish market, Meta has opted to shut down Threads altogether. The company has labeled this a temporary measure while it challenges the injunction, but no timeline for an appeal has been provided. In the interim, Meta has advised its Turkish users to either deactivate their accounts or delete them entirely. Those who choose to deactivate will have their posts and interactions restored "if Threads returns" to the country.

Meta's automatic data-sharing practices between Threads and Instagram have faced scrutiny not only from Turkish regulators but also from privacy advocates and users worldwide. The platforms were initially so tightly integrated that users could not delete a Threads account without also deleting their Instagram account, a practice that Meta eventually patched.

Additionally, Meta has been accused of promoting Threads posts on Facebook and Instagram without user consent, a move that prompted widespread backlash and prompted Meta to introduce an opt-out option. These practices led to the TCA's recent injunction.

Meta's troubles in Turkey do not end there. The country has previously fined the company $18.6 million for data-sharing across its apps, alleging that it violated Turkish competition laws. TechCrunch reported that Turkey had also demanded that Meta provide documentation detailing its efforts to cease violating these laws, but the Turkish regulators deemed the explanations insufficient, resulting in additional fines of $160,000 per day.

The TCA's actions against Meta underscore the global trend of heightened scrutiny towards Big Tech companies, particularly regarding their data-sharing practices. The injunction and the subsequent shutdown of Threads in Turkey serve as a reminder that companies must adhere to competition and privacy regulations to avoid facing sanctions. Meta's ongoing legal battle in Turkey highlights the complexities of navigating regulatory landscapes in different jurisdictions and the potential consequences for failing to comply.