Meta Platforms Inc.’s veiled threat to quit Europe because of blocked talks over privacy rules was more like music to the ears of two top German and French politicians.
“After being hacked I’ve lived without Facebook and Twitter for four years and life has been fantastic,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters at an event alongside French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in Paris on Monday.
“I can confirm that life is very good without Facebook and that we would live very well without Facebook,” Le Maire added. “Digital giants must understand that the European continent will resist and affirm its sovereignty.”
The pair were responding to comments in Meta’s annual report published Thursday, warning that if it couldn’t rely on new or existing agreements to shift data, then it would “likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe.”
The European Union “is such a big internal market with so much economic power that if we act in unity we won’t be intimidated by something like this,” Habeck said.
Meanwhile Le Maire listed ways in which European governments have challenged tech giants, including with privacy rules, taxation and blocking the development of digital currencies.
I don’t agree with Habeck often but here he is right.
LMFAO
Isn’t that pretty obvious?
They say they’re fine. But imagine if Facebook really shut down their services which means WhatsApp as well.
As European, I can see how many people would be screaming “WHEeErrEss My wHsTsAaaAaPpPp” 😂😂
(I am not using whatsapp myself, I’m on Signal, but I know it’s like the default here in Europe for most people).
I am also fine without Facebook, deleted it years ago.
What value do Facebook and Instagram provide to the common european?
Please tell me they’re actually going to pull out FB, Instagram etc. etc. from Europe so we can actually return to a somewhat functioning society.
Considering what a giant hole in internet services it would leave, I can imagine European alternatives starting to pop up immediately… Why would such large companies just toss away their market share on the continent with such a large total GDP?
Usually multinational companies can blackmail governments like that when they pay taxes or hire lots of employees in the country. Facebook does neither of those, so it’s just a bluff without any leverage. Why would they be intimidated by Facebook’s threats?
Get rid of twitter too please.
Funny they think of Facebook as a social network. It’s not. It’s a freaking advertisement platform.
Not believing it. Facebook is one of the worst companies. But some of their services are ubiquitous in the population.
[deleted]
Yes, please.
What an utter piece of shite that company behind Facebook, Instagram is. Profiting off of people’s insecurities like nobody’s business.
lol BASED, zuckerface seething rn
It is as they say based.
Oh Facebook you’re still here?
Good small reaction.
I would like all administrations, agencies, public offices… close their accounts, believing & anticipating Meta’s announcements !
I can understand why losing Google would be a nuisance, or Microsoft for that matter
But facebook?
Really?
What’s next, virus threatening to not infect our PC’s?
Zuckerberg needs a reality check Asap
>“I can confirm that life is very good without Facebook and that we would live very well without Facebook,” Le Maire added.
Preach
Facebook used bluff
Ministers used wisdom check
It’s supper effective
It’s a baseless threat anyway. If they withdraw from the EU market, Meta’s market valuation will take a huge hit and they can’t really afford that after the toll Apple’s new privacy features took on their benefits.
I don’t know, thinking about getting rid of Facebook / Meta in whole Europe makes my heart feel
lighter.
I feel oddly proud…
The only thing FB is doing nowadays is spreading ads, false information and organise idiots. For years european regulators are trying to control their harmful impact without success. Now, with FB losing so much value, is the time to force them to provide the services the customer wants and not the one FB wants
I think shutting down instagram will have people out in the streets in no time, like no other issue 🙂
YES, fuck Facebook and their methods
Sexy* Habeck is right.
(*according to many women over 50)
by the way, another (5.14%) down today
Ohh noooo no more facebook. ANYWAYS
I own Facebook stock…. Still I’d be so happy and thankful if it along with the rest of social media, disappeared once and for all.
It’s destroying western society.
Fucking finally
Facebook is totally bluffing. Europe would be better off without them.
Words are wind. They’ll do nothing and comply, like always. FB isn’t going anywhere sadly
Nothing made me seriously consider quitting Facebook like this bluff. It’s like….so empowering. It’s like a bad boyfriend/girlfriend going “oh, you’ll never leave me” and even if you were only kind of thinking about it you suddenly say “oh, do you think so? bye!” and then it’s done.
I hope Facebook dies.
This is just empty words like always lol Europe is way to big market for them.
I never used Facebook myself, but my mom loves Facebook. She always sharing pictures and event what going in here local community.
So for people who really enjoying Facebook and don’t care about all this data collation and targeted advertising I feel sorry for them if it shuts down.
I personally use Instagram, but just for nice picture if it disappears tomorrow it will not effect me at all.
But what I really like is Oculus VR hopefully they don’t shut this down:)
Your move, Rest Of The World.
Basically Germany and France saying “Oh no! Anyway”
YES YES YES
More than fine actually, the amount of conspiracy theories and antivaxx bull shit that comes out of Facebook is off the charts, the world would truly be a better place without it.
It would not make conspiracy nut jobs disappear of course but Facebook gathers them all together in one huge echo chamber.
At this point, meta is just embarrassing. How can a huge international company throw such an empty threat. Everyone and their mother knew it would not happen. It just burns credibility for no reason. Considering how little credibility they had to begin with, it’s extra stupid. Like WTF Zucc, why you do dis?
If FB cannot make money and respect user’s privacy, it doesn’t deserve to exist.
If Europe gets rid of all social media then I’m moving over from the states. Think I’ve had enough of the planet’s hive mind. I noticed if I go without social media for a day or so, I start to become a happier, nicer and less stressed person again. I’m convinced social media is seriously distorting and damaging our ape brain reality.
48 comments
Meta Platforms Inc.’s veiled threat to quit Europe because of blocked talks over privacy rules was more like music to the ears of two top German and French politicians.
“After being hacked I’ve lived without Facebook and Twitter for four years and life has been fantastic,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters at an event alongside French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in Paris on Monday.
“I can confirm that life is very good without Facebook and that we would live very well without Facebook,” Le Maire added. “Digital giants must understand that the European continent will resist and affirm its sovereignty.”
The pair were responding to comments in Meta’s annual report published Thursday, warning that if it couldn’t rely on new or existing agreements to shift data, then it would “likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe.”
The European Union “is such a big internal market with so much economic power that if we act in unity we won’t be intimidated by something like this,” Habeck said.
Meanwhile Le Maire listed ways in which European governments have challenged tech giants, including with privacy rules, taxation and blocking the development of digital currencies.
I don’t agree with Habeck often but here he is right.
LMFAO
Isn’t that pretty obvious?
They say they’re fine. But imagine if Facebook really shut down their services which means WhatsApp as well.
As European, I can see how many people would be screaming “WHEeErrEss My wHsTsAaaAaPpPp” 😂😂
(I am not using whatsapp myself, I’m on Signal, but I know it’s like the default here in Europe for most people).
I am also fine without Facebook, deleted it years ago.
What value do Facebook and Instagram provide to the common european?
Please tell me they’re actually going to pull out FB, Instagram etc. etc. from Europe so we can actually return to a somewhat functioning society.
Considering what a giant hole in internet services it would leave, I can imagine European alternatives starting to pop up immediately… Why would such large companies just toss away their market share on the continent with such a large total GDP?
Usually multinational companies can blackmail governments like that when they pay taxes or hire lots of employees in the country. Facebook does neither of those, so it’s just a bluff without any leverage. Why would they be intimidated by Facebook’s threats?
Get rid of twitter too please.
Funny they think of Facebook as a social network. It’s not. It’s a freaking advertisement platform.
Not believing it. Facebook is one of the worst companies. But some of their services are ubiquitous in the population.
[deleted]
Yes, please.
What an utter piece of shite that company behind Facebook, Instagram is. Profiting off of people’s insecurities like nobody’s business.
lol BASED, zuckerface seething rn
It is as they say based.
Oh Facebook you’re still here?
Good small reaction.
I would like all administrations, agencies, public offices… close their accounts, believing & anticipating Meta’s announcements !
I can understand why losing Google would be a nuisance, or Microsoft for that matter
But facebook?
Really?
What’s next, virus threatening to not infect our PC’s?
Zuckerberg needs a reality check Asap
>“I can confirm that life is very good without Facebook and that we would live very well without Facebook,” Le Maire added.
Preach
Facebook used bluff
Ministers used wisdom check
It’s supper effective
It’s a baseless threat anyway. If they withdraw from the EU market, Meta’s market valuation will take a huge hit and they can’t really afford that after the toll Apple’s new privacy features took on their benefits.
I don’t know, thinking about getting rid of Facebook / Meta in whole Europe makes my heart feel
lighter.
I feel oddly proud…
The only thing FB is doing nowadays is spreading ads, false information and organise idiots. For years european regulators are trying to control their harmful impact without success. Now, with FB losing so much value, is the time to force them to provide the services the customer wants and not the one FB wants
I think shutting down instagram will have people out in the streets in no time, like no other issue 🙂
YES, fuck Facebook and their methods
Sexy* Habeck is right.
(*according to many women over 50)
by the way, another (5.14%) down today
Ohh noooo no more facebook. ANYWAYS
I own Facebook stock…. Still I’d be so happy and thankful if it along with the rest of social media, disappeared once and for all.
It’s destroying western society.
Fucking finally
Facebook is totally bluffing. Europe would be better off without them.
Words are wind. They’ll do nothing and comply, like always. FB isn’t going anywhere sadly
Nothing made me seriously consider quitting Facebook like this bluff. It’s like….so empowering. It’s like a bad boyfriend/girlfriend going “oh, you’ll never leave me” and even if you were only kind of thinking about it you suddenly say “oh, do you think so? bye!” and then it’s done.
I hope Facebook dies.
This is just empty words like always lol Europe is way to big market for them.
I never used Facebook myself, but my mom loves Facebook. She always sharing pictures and event what going in here local community.
So for people who really enjoying Facebook and don’t care about all this data collation and targeted advertising I feel sorry for them if it shuts down.
I personally use Instagram, but just for nice picture if it disappears tomorrow it will not effect me at all.
But what I really like is Oculus VR hopefully they don’t shut this down:)
Your move, Rest Of The World.
Basically Germany and France saying “Oh no! Anyway”
YES YES YES
More than fine actually, the amount of conspiracy theories and antivaxx bull shit that comes out of Facebook is off the charts, the world would truly be a better place without it.
It would not make conspiracy nut jobs disappear of course but Facebook gathers them all together in one huge echo chamber.
At this point, meta is just embarrassing. How can a huge international company throw such an empty threat. Everyone and their mother knew it would not happen. It just burns credibility for no reason. Considering how little credibility they had to begin with, it’s extra stupid. Like WTF Zucc, why you do dis?
If FB cannot make money and respect user’s privacy, it doesn’t deserve to exist.
If Europe gets rid of all social media then I’m moving over from the states. Think I’ve had enough of the planet’s hive mind. I noticed if I go without social media for a day or so, I start to become a happier, nicer and less stressed person again. I’m convinced social media is seriously distorting and damaging our ape brain reality.
YES!!!
Proud to be european right now.
Fuck you Facebook, accept our conditions or quit.
We really are