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Comment by Closi | Hacker News Reader

> Meta Is Absolutely Not Threatening to Leave Europe

But then in the body of their post...

> EU-US data transfers mechanisms poses a threat to our ability to serve European consumers and operate our business in Europe [and] we have absolutely no desire to withdraw from Europe, of course we don’t, But the simple reality is that Meta relies on data transfers between the EU and the US.

I mean, that sounds like a threat to leave to me? If you can't operate your business in Europe? Talk about mixed messaging and double-speak!

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If you're going to interpret every risk disclosed to investors as a threat, that means companies can't be honest about the risks facing them without making threats.

Since public companies get sued for not disclosing risks to investors, there is no winning this.

Came here for this comment. This choice of headline by Meta seems like a bad choice. The language just reeks of double speak even if it isn't (No, I haven't read the article!). Who is running PR at Meta these days? "Dad Is Absolutely Not Threatening to Leave Mom".

Getting in to the article, the language is bizarre: "We have absolutely no desire to withdraw from Europe; of course we don’t." What? Who talks like that.

> "Dad Is Absolutely Not Threatening to Leave Mom".

Exactly - "Dad is absolutely not threatening to leave Mom, it's just that Mom has done something that gives Dad no choice but to leave".

"Language that adults think works on children but kids are smarter than you think and see through your bullshit"

I believe they are saying "this is not a threat, it's just what we have to do".

A threat implies an intent which is not here, they are saying they won't be allowed to operate because they can only operate this way.

It's like: "my car can only go to N km/h", it's not a threat they can't go at N+1, but a statement.

(I doubt it's true, anyway)

Haha yes, and then also:

"we want the internet to continue to operate as it was intended: without friction, in compliance with applicable laws — but not confined by national borders."

We want the internet to be an unrestricted free for all! But also follow the laws ... the ones we like, of course. But not ones from other countries, I mean we all have a line guys.

What are you talking about? It's completely clear to someone who isn't coming at this issue with an axe to grind. Meta's ability to serve European customers is under threat. In other words, the regulatory framework is making it hard for them to do their jobs. Meta is not threatening to leave. They couldn't be clearer.

They are saying "We aren't threatening to leave, but we will be forced to leave".

If it is a threat or not is a matter of perspective and opinion, but they are implying that they will leave if legislation isn't revoked.

They're not threatening to leave Europe. They're warning their investors that the EU seems to be outlawing any form of international social media.

An international social network where one posts pictures/videos, write posts, has a profile, look at news, communicate through direct messages or group chats should be fully compliant with GDPR. Even across borders. Because consent for those activities is very explicit.

What's not compliant with GDPR: Store cookies on a users computer, then let others look for that cookie and share the users data with them so they can target ads at you. Collect all that data from different site and create a profile of you that you then sell. You can also not move data out of the EU without guaranteeing to not do that.

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