European users have found ways to access Meta Platforms Inc.'s new Threads app, even though it hasn't been officially launched in the European Union (EU) yet. Despite not being available in app stores across the 27 EU countries, verified accounts for notable French media companies and public figures have managed to start posting on Threads.
French media companies like Le Figaro and Liberation, as well as left-wing lawmaker Francois Ruffin, were actively using the app on the day of its launch. Even German football club RB Leipzig, French peer Saint-Etienne, and Real Madrid player Eduardo Camavinga were among those who found ways to access and post on Threads.
According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Threads already had over 30 million users just hours after its launch. However, the app's availability has been delayed in the EU due to the company needing to address data protection regulations specific to the bloc.
Nevertheless, European users have managed to find loopholes to access Threads. iPhone users, for example, can connect to the US App Store to get the app, while Android users can download the app manually using APKs (Android Package Kits) from sources other than the Google Play store.
Mickaël Frison, who handles social networks for French daily Liberation, stated that joining Threads is not complicated for their subscribers since they are primarily French. Frison believes it won't be long before politicians also join the app if the conversations taking place there prove relevant.
No comments were received from representatives of other media groups and football clubs mentioned in the article. Likewise, no response was provided by Ruffin or Real Madrid regarding their usage of the app.
Overall, European users have found innovative ways to access the Threads app despite its unavailability in app stores in the EU. This raises questions about data protection regulations and highlights the high demand for Meta's latest offering.