The Turkish competition board announced on Thursday the termination of its investigation into Meta Platforms concerning data-sharing practices between its social media platforms, Threads and Instagram. The decision comes after Meta presented commitments deemed sufficient to address the authority’s competition concerns.
A key commitment ensures that both current and new Threads users will be able to access the platform without needing an Instagram account once the app is reinstated in Turkey. This addresses a primary concern regarding potential anti-competitive practices by tying the two platforms together.
Meta assured the antitrust authority that data collected through Threads would not be merged with Instagram data unless users explicitly choose to link their accounts. This commitment provides users with greater control over their personal data and alleviates concerns about unauthorized data sharing between the platforms.
The investigation, initiated last year, stemmed from concerns that linking Meta’s social media platforms might violate competition law. These concerns led to a temporary shutdown of Threads in Turkey in April, following an interim order from the competition authority. With the acceptance of Meta’s commitments, this order is effectively lifted, paving the way for Threads to return to the Turkish market.
The board’s decision signals a resolution to the data-sharing concerns, allowing Meta Platforms to operate Threads independently from Instagram within Turkey. This outcome underscores the importance of addressing competition concerns in the rapidly evolving digital landscape and ensures Turkish users have more choice in their social media platform selection.
