Key Points
- Turkey’s competition board has ended its investigation into Meta’s data-sharing practices between Threads and Instagram.
- Meta’s commitments include allowing users to access Threads without an Instagram account.
- The investigation began last year due to concerns about potential anti-competitive practices. Meta temporarily shut down Threads in Turkey in April.
- The competition board deemed Meta’s commitments sufficient to address competition concerns.
Turkey’s competition board announced its decision to terminate an investigation into Meta Platforms concerning data-sharing practices between its social media platforms, Threads and Instagram. The investigation was initiated last year to determine whether linking these platforms violated competition laws. However, commitments provided by Meta to address these concerns were deemed sufficient, prompting the authority to conclude the inquiry.
Meta assured the competition board that changes would be implemented to ensure compliance. These adjustments will allow existing and new Threads users to access the platform without requiring an Instagram account when Threads is reinstated in Turkey. The company also committed to preventing data merging between Threads and Instagram unless users explicitly choose to link their accounts. These measures address competition concerns by decoupling user experiences and data between the platforms.
The investigation began after the Turkish competition authority raised concerns about potential anti-competitive practices related to integrating Threads and Instagram. In April, Meta temporarily shut down the Threads platform in Turkey to comply with an interim order issued by the authority. The suspension of Threads in the country highlighted the significant scrutiny Meta faced over its operations and data policies.
The competition board welcomed Meta’s commitments, stating they would resolve the issues raised during the investigation. By allowing independent access to Threads and ensuring data separation, Meta has demonstrated its willingness to adapt its business practices to meet regulatory requirements. The board emphasized that these commitments were sufficient to address concerns about fair competition in Turkey’s digital market.
Meta’s resolution of this investigation marks a step forward in its relationship with Turkish regulators. The company has been increasingly scrutinized for its data handling and competitive practices. The changes in Turkey may set a precedent for how Meta navigates similar challenges in other markets.
