The launch of Meta's Twitter rival, Threads, will be postponed in the EU due to regulatory uncertainty surrounding personal data use. The app is still set to launch in the UK and US on Thursday. The company is citing the EU Digital Markets Act as the reason for the delay and is seeking further clarification from the European Commission before deciding on its next move.
Separately, TechCircle reports there has been controversy surrounding the app's privacy policy. The Apple App Store listing reveals that Threads will collect a wide range of data, including sensitive information like health, fitness, and financial data raising concerns about how the app will manage personal information. While social media apps typically collect user data, Threads stands out because of its collection of health and fitness-related information, such as steps taken and heart rate.
The Open Rights Group addresses the consequences of Meta's new commercial federated service. The ORG also points out that while EU regulators are concerned about Threads' use of personal data, the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has not raised similar concerns.
In a related article, WIRED provides granular detail about what personal data is collected by Threads, along with rivals Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, Spill, and Hive Social.
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