The Irish CNIL wishes to prevent Meta from transferring its users’ data between Europe and the United States. The group could decide to leave the European market.
The showdown between Meta, through Facebook and Instagram, and the European Union is taking a new turn. Already in February, the departure of Facebook was mentioned concerning the question of the transfer of user data between the old continent and the United States.
On Thursday July 7, it’s the Irish CNIL, the Irish Data Protection Commission, who told her European counterparts that she was planning to stop Meta from sending personal data across the Atlantic. The other European organizations now have one month to offer their feedback on this project.
Can Meta really leave Europe
For several years, Meta, formerly Facebook, has been fighting with European lawmakers to be able to transfer users’ personal data to the United States and treaties across the Atlantic. An optimization of the firm which would allow it to override the legislation on data processing in Europe, deemed to be more protective of users than in the United States.
Even if she did not claim to have ” no desire or plan to withdraw from Europe Meta has always weighed this question in the balance. However, it should be remembered that the old continent represents nearly a quarter of the group’s income. Could Meta really afford to give up on the more than 400 million monthly active users on Facebook that are present in Europe? It seems hard to believe.
As the Politico site reminds us, the European and American authorities are in the middle of negotiations for a new agreement which would authorize this type of transfer for companies. Negotiations are said to be slowing down, however, and should not be concluded before at least the end of the year.
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