In preparation for the upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) taking effect in March, Meta has unveiled a solution geared towards providing users in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area, and Switzerland with increased control over their data. The company’s move aligns with the new European regulations, which aim to fortify data protection and foster competition in the digital services market.
Unlinking Profiles and Standalone Messenger Service
As part of Meta’s strategy to comply with the DMA, users will now have the ability to separate their profiles on Instagram, Facebook, and other Meta services. This means that the sharing of information between these platforms can be halted. Moreover, Facebook Messenger is now available as a standalone service, allowing users to use it independently of a Facebook account. This includes users who had previously linked their Facebook and Instagram accounts, as they now have the option to unlink them. Meta emphasizes that this account linking was utilized for purposes such as ad targeting, personalized content recommendations, and messaging.
Implications for Marketplace and Gaming Services
Noteworthy is the ripple effect these changes will have on other Meta services like Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Gaming. While users can now utilize these services without sharing information with their primary Facebook accounts, Meta cautions that this might result in diminished functionality. For instance, Marketplace users will need to communicate via email instead of Facebook Messenger when using the service without Facebook data. Additionally, Facebook Gaming users who have unlinked their Facebook accounts will only be able to engage in single-player games.
Industry Shifts in Response to DMA
Meta’s recent announcement mirrors a trend initiated by Google, responding to the DMA by allowing users to halt data sharing between its various platforms. Both Meta and Google find themselves among the six companies labeled as “gatekeepers” or “guardians” in the DMA context, marking a pivotal moment as the regulations come into effect on March 6th, notes NIXSOLUTIONS.
In conclusion, these adjustments, spurred by the DMA, signify a broader regulatory landscape in the EU. Beyond user data exchange controls, the DMA introduces rules to enhance competitive conditions for European businesses relying on major digital platforms, particularly those originating from the United States. Expectations include messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger needing compatibility with competitors’ platforms, and Apple being required to open up iOS for downloading and installing apps from third-party stores.