The European Union is threatening to shut down Facebook if the social media giant doesn’t comply with new privacy requirements. The regulations, which were proposed in January, would give users more control over their data and how it’s used. If Facebook doesn’t meet the requirements, it could be fined up to 4% of its global annual revenue, which would amount to $1.6 billion.
What would a Facebook blackout mean for the company and its users?
Facebook has come under increasing pressure from European regulators in recent months over its privacy policies. The European Union has threatened to block the social media giant from operating in the region if it doesn’t meet new data protection requirements.
If Facebook were to be blocked in Europe, it would be a major blow to the company. The region is one of its biggest markets, and a blackout would likely cause a significant decline in user numbers.
For users, a Facebook blackout would mean losing access to the social media platform’s 2 billion users. It would also mean losing access to all the data that Facebook has on them. This could include information about their friends, interests, and contact details.