Meta to shut down Threads in Turkey after ban on sharing data with Instagram

Meta was launched on April 29 after the Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) issued a temporary ban on automatic sharing of material with Instagram. The TCA ruled that linking Threads and Instagram without user choice “would cause irreparable harm” and that Meta’s actions “abused its dominant position in the industry.” TCA also said that this link exists mainly to enhance the company’s “market power”.

Rather than making any changes to how Instagram and Threads are integrated in the region, Meta is canceling the emerging social media app. The company said this was only a temporary measure while it appealed the ban, but there was no timetable yet. Meanwhile, Meta advises Turkish users to either deactivate their accounts or delete them entirely. “If Threads returns” to the country, those deactivated will have their posts and interactions restored.

Turkish regulators aren’t the only ones who think the automated link between Threads and Instagram is a bit creepy at best. This has been a bone of contention since the platform launched last year. The apps are so closely tied together that users can’t even delete Threads accounts, although Meta fixed the issue a few months ago.

Meta also began promoting Threads posts on Facebook and Instagram, eventually allowing the “feature.” This type of automated material sharing infuriated the TCA, leading to the recent ban.

Furthermore, this is not the first regulatory battle between Meta and Türkiye. In 2022, the country fined Meta $18.6 million over data sharing between its apps, . This allegedly violates the country’s competition laws. The country asked Meta to submit documents detailing its efforts to stop violations of those laws, but Turkish regulators said there was a lack of explanation. As a result, the country imposed additional fines on Meta.