Meta blocks EU users from accessing Threads, even if they enter through a VPN connection

July 14 (Portaltic/EP) –

Goal has begun to block access to all users in the European Union (EU) to your new ‘app’ Threadseven if they have tried to access through a VPN connection, since it is not yet available in most European countries due to data protection regulations.

The company led by Mark Zuckerberg launched its new ‘microblogging’ platform, designed to share ideas and trends with text, on July 5, with which he intends that “communities meet to discuss everything, from the topics that interest you today to what will be a trend tomorrow”.

Although the ‘app’ is launched in more than 100 countries globally, those belonging to the European Union were not on this list. This is because, as indicated by a spokesperson for the commission Ireland Data ProtectionThreads still can’t operate because uses the data of Instagram usersincluding behavioral information and advertising, something not allowed under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Now, Meta has implemented “additional measures” for prevent users belonging to EU countries where this platform is not enabled can access Threads. So access to the platform is blocked even if you try to enter through a VPN connection.

This has been indicated by the platform through a statement to TechCrunchwhere he has also detailed that “Europe remains an incredibly important market for Meta” and therefore expect Threads to be available in all EU countries “in the future”. Some users They have also reported this problem, when verifying that these additional measures of Meta prohibit the entrance to the platform “even with a VPN”.

Okay, it actually seems as if Meta truly decided to ban Europe in Threads, as it’s available globally, but not from Europe (even with a VPN). pic.twitter.com/Al64RL674G

— Yury Molodtsov ⚡️ (@y_molodtsov) July 14, 2023

It should be remembered that Threads reached 100 million users in less than a week after its launch, according to data compiled by Quiver Quantitative, which has been running a count of subscribed accounts since it was made available to users.

As shown on the Threads page in the App Store, following Apple’s privacy policy, the social network collects data on health and physical activity, financial information, contact information (physical address, email, telephone), the content that the user shares or the browsing history.

It also collects information about the mobile data usagesystem diagnostics, purchases, location, contacts, search history, user and device identifiers, sensitive information and others not specified in the available categories.