In a significant development, Turkey’s Competition Board announced on Thursday that it has decided to terminate its investigation into Meta Platforms (META.O) regarding data-sharing practices between its social media platforms, Threads and Instagram. The decision follows commitments made by Meta to address the board’s concerns over potential violations of competition laws.
The investigation, which began last year, centered on whether Meta’s linking of Threads with Instagram, particularly regarding user data, could harm competition in Turkey’s social media market. However, the Turkish Competition Authority now considers Meta’s commitments to be sufficient to resolve the issue.
Meta has assured the authorities that users will have greater control over their data when using Threads. Specifically, the company has agreed to allow both existing and new Threads users to create a Threads profile without needing an Instagram account, once the app is reinstated in Turkey. Additionally, Meta has committed that unless users explicitly choose to merge their accounts, the data collected through Threads will not be shared with Instagram, effectively ensuring data privacy and competition compliance.
The investigation originally began after Meta launched Threads in 2023, linking it to Instagram, which raised concerns about data privacy and user autonomy. In response to an interim order by Turkey’s competition authority, Meta temporarily shut down Threads in Turkey in April 2024 to comply with regulatory requirements.
This move by the Competition Board marks a positive outcome for Meta, as it avoids further legal complications in Turkey. Meta’s response to the concerns—specifically its commitment to allow more flexibility for users—is seen as a significant step in demonstrating the company’s willingness to cooperate with local regulators and address competition concerns.
In a statement, the Competition Authority emphasized that the commitments made by Meta adequately addressed the issues of potential harm to fair competition. The board’s decision to close the investigation comes as part of an ongoing effort to balance regulatory oversight with fostering innovation in the tech and social media sectors.
Meta’s cooperation in resolving these concerns may now pave the way for the full reinstatement of Threads in Turkey, helping the platform regain traction in the Turkish market.
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