As much as people would like to see that, Facebook-Meta will not withdraw from the EU anyway. It's an empty threat. The EU has never been particularly impressed with such bluffing in the past.
It is a sword of Damocles hanging over all US companies doing business in the EU and it is something that needs to be solved by the US side, as European courts have shot all attempts by the EU down.
I hope this is a beginning for the US to finally tackle their due process deficiency.
Facebook doesn't give European politicians and regulators any arguments that speak for them:
- (Basically) No jobs in Europe
- (Basically) No taxes in Europe
- Easily replaceable (aka no major economic consequences when they disappear)
- Considered as dividing the population and fueling conflict for profit
- In a position to block meaningful local competition
- Facebook flipped them off in the past when they could get away with it
- Facebook delivers the data of EU citizens directly to foreign secret services. Even if you don't care about privacy, this removes a potential bargaining chip for future transatlantic contracts.
As a citizen I am in general still supportive of the EU, in fights like this for sure, but some of the criticisms that came out of Brexit were fair.
- [1] https://support.google.com/news/publisher-center/answer/9609...
- [2] https://deliveroo.es/en/