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Facebook has outlined the latest messaging changes for European users as a result of new data security and privacy laws in the region.
Europe s Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive - also known as the ePrivacy Directive - is being expanded from this week in order to incorporate more forms of digital communication. The Directive relates to how user data is stored and used, and how businesses can use platforms, including messaging tools, to distribute marketing material. The latest changes relate to how long data can be kept, and what types of information can be gathered via messaging apps.
Facebook disables some Messenger and Instagram features in European countries
These features have been temporarily disabled to comply with new data usage rules in the European Union (EU) countries which come under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive (ePrivacy Directive). Updated: December 21, 2020 8:59:18 am
Facebook integrated Instagram and Messenger earlier this year (Image: Instagram)
Facebook has notified its users that some of the features on the Messenger and Instagram will be temporarily available in Europe. Users in Europe have reported that they are seeing a message informing them about the disabling of the features. “This is to respect new rules for messaging services in Europe. We’re working to bring them back,” the message read.
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Speaking to The Verge, a Facebook representative said most of these features will return very soon .
However, it is not clear on the exact timeline for when these features could return to both the Instagram and Facebook Messenger apps.
Facebook has been disabling these features in Instagram and Messenger due to the implementation of the 2002 Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive. This EU directive has strict rules on data usage for communication services that operate in EU countries.
The news comes as earlier this week Facebook announced that they would be moving UK users onto new agreements with its Californian headquarters after the Brexit transition period ends.
Instagram: What does ‘some features not available Europe’ mean? Message explained!
Many people have reported seeing a message on Instagram that says ‘some features not available in Europe’, but what does that mean? Let’s explore Instagram’s new rules.
Lots of Instagram users have been left very confused after receiving a message that states some features won’t be available on the app anymore, but it only seems to be for people in Europe.
What does the ‘some features not available in Europe’ mean? And what features have been disabled? Here’s everything you need to know.
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Facebook is temporarily disabling some Messenger and Instagram features in Europe Tom Warren Some Messenger and Instagram features aren’t available in Europe.
Facebook is notifying Messenger and Instagram users in Europe that some features are temporarily unavailable. A small message has appeared in both the Facebook Messenger and Instagram apps for European users this week, noting that some features aren’t available to “respect new rules for messaging services in Europe.”
Facebook doesn’t outline exactly what features will be missing, but the company does reveal on its support pages that polls on both Messenger and Instagram are currently unavailable in Europe, alongside a lack of stickers in Instagram and no personalized replies on Messenger. Other missing features may include a lack of certain file sends on Messenger, missing nicknames, or the ability to share AR effects in DMs on Instagram.