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Messenger API Updates for Europe

developers.facebook.com

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Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#31

Post by paganel »

that_guy_iain wrote: post #20
3np wrote: post #8

So instead of making their system less-privacy-invasive (which I have seen no indication should be impossible wrt the APIs mentioned here), they just shut down services where this is regulated. Not surprised, but there's no way to spin this in a way that doesn't make Facebook look shady and bad. So much for "working with regulators".

To honest, I think this is probably the begining of the end for Facebook. I foresee that they'll be forced to reduce services in Europe repeatedly. It'll be interesting to see what takes its place.

I don’t see FB shutting down a service like Watsapp in Europe in the next decade at least, first of all because countless European politicians use it, to say nothing of the hundreds of millions of Europeans who use it regularly. There’s nothing else comparable that can take its place.

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#32

Post by theobeers »

matthewmacleod wrote: post #14
3np wrote: post #8

So instead of making their system less-privacy-invasive (which I have seen no indication should be impossible wrt the APIs mentioned here), they just shut down services where this is regulated. Not surprised, but there's no way to spin this in a way that doesn't make Facebook look shady and bad. So much for "working with regulators".

It does say: "We are currently working to restore these features and will continue to update this document and the changelog section with the details as they are available." Doesn't this suggest that they aren't being shut-down?

That reminds me of the many local and regional newspapers in the US that are owned by Tribune Publishing, and whose websites have been inaccessible in Europe since the GDPR went into effect. You'll be met with the following disclaimer:

"Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in most European countries. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to the EU market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism."

Ok, I'm sure it'll be any day now…

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#33

Post by oblio »

paganel wrote: post #31
that_guy_iain wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To honest, I think this is probably the begining of the end for Facebook. I foresee that they'll be forced to reduce services in Europe repeatedly. It'll be interesting to see what takes its place.

I don’t see FB shutting down a service like Watsapp in Europe in the next decade at least, first of all because countless European politicians use it, to say nothing of the hundreds of millions of Europeans who use it regularly. There’s nothing else comparable that can take its place.

Telegram, I think Signal, too. There are alternatives, they're just not as popular now.

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#34

Post by pjc50 »

jon-wood wrote: post #23
pjc50 wrote: post #19

This is desperately short on explanation? The very high granularity suggests that some features are more privacy-invasive than others, but not why that is. (Also, listing the UK under EEA is .. complicated and subject to change in the next few weeks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membership_of_the_United_Kingd... )

While come January the UK won't be part of the EEA, at least initially GDPR will continue to apply as most EU law has been grandfathered into UK law post-transition.

Yes, but as far as I'm aware the question of whether the UK will be a "third country" for purposes of data transfer outside the EU after January 1 is still undecided?

(Where is Facebook's data center anyway, is it Ireland?)

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#35

Post by oblio »

trumpeta wrote: post #21
that_guy_iain wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To honest, I think this is probably the begining of the end for Facebook. I foresee that they'll be forced to reduce services in Europe repeatedly. It'll be interesting to see what takes its place.

they'll end up preying on the people in 3rd world countries that don't have strong privacy legislation. Same way as Phillip Morris did with cigarettes...

It's still good if you minimize their impact.

A similar example is sending garbage to China. At a certain point China stopped accepting it. Hopefully soon others will do the same and recycling will be tackled correctly.

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#36

Post by oblio »

diggan wrote: post #16
matthewmacleod wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does say: "We are currently working to restore these features and will continue to update this document and the changelog section with the details as they are available." Doesn't this suggest that they aren't being shut-down?

It might be temporary, but removing features "temporary" certainly sounds like being shut down, but temporary. Interesting that Facebook and everyone else has been knowing that these rules have been coming for years, they still haven't been ready. Certainly reads like they haven't been working with anyone, and their last resort is now to temporary shut down the features they were unable to fix, during these years.

As the other commenters have said about GDPR, it could also be polite-speak for "never" (or "until we can lobby our way to new laws").

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#37

Post by derin »

paganel wrote: post #31
that_guy_iain wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To honest, I think this is probably the begining of the end for Facebook. I foresee that they'll be forced to reduce services in Europe repeatedly. It'll be interesting to see what takes its place.

I don’t see FB shutting down a service like Watsapp in Europe in the next decade at least, first of all because countless European politicians use it, to say nothing of the hundreds of millions of Europeans who use it regularly. There’s nothing else comparable that can take its place.

Telegram? Signal? Viber? Matrix?

I feel like all of these apps (with special emphasis on Telegram and Signal) have almost the exact same UX and features of WhatsApp... beyond adoption numbers.

Surely one of these can take its place?

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#38

Post by stingraycharles »

oblio wrote: post #33
paganel wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t see FB shutting down a service like Watsapp in Europe in the next decade at least, first of all because countless European politicians use it, to say nothing of the hundreds of millions of Europeans who use it regularly. There’s nothing else comparable that can take its place.

Telegram, I think Signal, too. There are alternatives, they're just not as popular now.

Telegram may be getting momentum, but it’s nothing near the usage of WhatsApp over here. Signal nobody knows anything about, there’s nobody on there.

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#39

Post by nindalf »

HatchedLake721 wrote: post #28
nindalf wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry but you’re mistaken. The original ePD applied to messaging services, ie, SMS providers. What changed this year is that a few months ago the EU decided that providers like Messenger should be covered by the regulation too. Source - worked on ePD compliance.

Thanks! But I don't understand how ePD with no changes from 2009 can suddenly include Facebook and others? Unless there have been other regulations passed? I can't find anything about ePD changes that forces Facebook to do this, all I can find is the upcoming ePR (ePrivacy Regulation) that will affect Facebook and others, but it hasn't been passed yet. I haven't heard of any privacy/GDPR/ePD changes recently other th…

Sorry, everything I’ve read is internal material. The lawyers spoke to the EU and were told this needs to happen right away. So it is happening.

Re: Messenger API Updates for Europe

#40

Post by hombre_fatal »

oblio wrote: post #33
paganel wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t see FB shutting down a service like Watsapp in Europe in the next decade at least, first of all because countless European politicians use it, to say nothing of the hundreds of millions of Europeans who use it regularly. There’s nothing else comparable that can take its place.

Telegram, I think Signal, too. There are alternatives, they're just not as popular now.

Do telcos in US/Europe create the same incumbency that telcos in Latin America create?

Here in Mexico, any mobile data package comes with free data for blessed services like Whatsapp and FB Messenger. Obviously trying to compete with each other on these perks.

Using a competitor like Telegram is a complete nonstarter when trading memes or video chat eats into your data. The cheapest plan from Telcel (pay-as-you-go + holding 20 pesos in your balance) lets you use Whatsapp infinitely.

GG to competition.

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