Meta’s temporary shutdown of Threads in Turkey sparks controversy over data exchange restrictions

On Monday, Meta announced that they will temporarily close their platform Threads in Turkey effective April 29 in order to comply with an order from the competition authority. The closure of Threads will not impact Meta’s other networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, the company stated in a blog entry.

The decision to temporarily close Threads in Turkey comes as a response to an order issued by the Turkish competition regulator, which prohibits the exchange of data between Threads and Instagram. Meta expressed disagreement with the provisional order and stated that they believe they are in compliance with all Turkish legal requirements. The company plans to appeal the decision.

Despite the closure of Threads in Turkey, Meta assured that their other platforms will continue to operate as usual. The company emphasized that the temporary closure is specific to Threads only and will not affect the availability of Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp in the country. Meta remains committed to providing its services in compliance with local regulations.