Celebrities have already popped up on Metas highlyanticipated Twitter-like app Threadsahead of its Thursday launch while some international users will be left high and dry as Mark Zuckerbergs social media behemoth skips launching in European Union countries.
Screenshots frommultiple celebrity Threads accountsbegan circulating on social media on Wednesday, with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay joking, Is this where I find the lamb sauce ?? and pop star Shakira writing a simple Well hello Threads. Zuckerberg also chimed in, writing Lets do this. Welcome to Threads.
Some Threads posts were briefly visible in a desktop version of the site but Meta later pulled them down and replaced them with an error message stating Sorry, this page isnt available and a QR code to download the app.
While famous figures were already having fun on Threads, the app did not appear in searches of app stores in Germany, Spain, Italy, and France as of Wednesday. Listings in Apples App Store in the US and the United Kingdom allow users to pre-download the app ahead of its expected debut Thursday.
The apps absence in the EU reportedly stems from lingering uncertainty about the Digital Markets Act, which regulates how Big Tech firms share user data across multiple platforms.
Threads profiles went public. I can confirm that Netflix, Shakira, Gordon Ramsay already are there. Currently, no European personal data protection authority @EU_EDPB has set up an account. The European Commission @EU_Commission also does not have an account. #GDPR #ePrivacy pic.twitter.com/EaXWDjlnfr
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is waiting for more guidance on how the rules will affect Threads, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
EU regulators have cracked down on Metas operations in the region over the last few years, including a record $1.3 billion fine in May for transferring the data of European users to servers in the US.
On Tuesday, a top EU court shot down Meta’s challenge of an order by Germanys antitrust agency to stop collecting user data, Reuters reported.
Scrutiny over Metas practices has also intensified in the US, with the Wall Street Journal reporting last month that Instagrams recommendation algorithms had facilitated the existence of a vast pedophile network on the platform.
A Meta representative told Bloomberg that the company plans to release Threads in more than 100 countries to start and would add more over time, but declined to comment on why European Union nations appeared to be left off the initial list.
The Post has reached out to Meta for further comment.
Meta describes Threads as an online platform where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to whatll be trending tomorrow. The app will be closely tied to Instagram, with users able to use the same username and maintain their existing followers.
The text-based app is set to directly compete with Elon Musks Twitter, which has faced sharp criticism this week after the billionaire enacted limits on the number of tweets users could see per day.
One Meta executive described Threads as a sanely run alternative to Twitter which exacerbated the animosity that led Musk to challenge Mark Zuckerberg to a cage match. Musk responded to Threads upcoming launch by mocking its user data privacy plan.
One Meta executive, chief product officer Chris Cox, described Threads as a sanely run alternative to Twitter which exacerbated the animosity that led Musk to challenge Mark Zuckerberg to a cage match. Musk responded to Threads upcoming launch by mocking its user data privacy plan.
Cox also told employees that Meta was in talks with prominent figures to use the app including Oprah and the Dalai Lama,The Verge reportedlast month.
Who knew what about the Afghan data leak? And could anyone in parliament have done more to help scrutinise the government at the time of the superinjunction? Harriet thinks so.
So in this episode, Beth, Ruth, and Harriet talk about the massive breach, the secret court hearings, and the constitutional chaos it’s unleashed.
Plus – the fallout from the latest Labour rebellion. Four MPs have lost the whip – officially for repeated defiance, but unofficially? A government source called it “persistent knobheadery”.
So is Keir Starmer tightening his grip or losing control? And how does this compare to rebellions of Labour past?
Oh and singer Chesney Hawkes gets an unexpected mention.
Responding to claims in the podcast about whether Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle could have scrutinised the government, a Commons spokesperson said: “As has been made clear, Mr Speaker was himself under a superinjunction, and so would have been under severe legal restrictions regarding speaking about this. He would have had no awareness which organisations or individuals were and were not already aware of this matter.
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“The injunction could not constrain proceedings in parliament and between being served with the injunction in September 2023 and the 2024 General Election Mr Speaker granted four UQs on matters relating to Afghan refugees and resettlement schemes.
“Furthermore, as set out in the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Speaker has no powers to refer matters to the Intelligence and Security Committee.”
England have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Euros after knocking out Sweden.
The Lionesses won 3-2 on penalties at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, after clawing their way back to take the game into extra-time.
The defending champions had been 2-0 down at half-time after goals from Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius in the quarter-final clash.
England then levelled matters towards the end of normal time. Lucy Bronze delivered the first England goal on 79 minutes, assisted by substitute Chloe Kelly. Two minutes later, Michelle Agyemang followed suit, taking the score to 2-2.
Image: England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (R) celebrates with teammates after the side beat Sweden. Pic: AP
After a goalless extra-time, it was time for penalties.
Alessia Russo kicked things off, finding the back of the net for England, before Lauren James, Alex Greenwood, Beth Mead and Grace Clinton had their attempts saved by Sweden’s Jennifer Falk.
The game was sent into sudden death after Falk went face-to-face with England’s Hannah Hampton but sent the ball flying over the crossbar.
Image: Pic: Reuters
Image: A devastated Sweden. Pic: Reuters
It all came down to Sweden’s seventh penalty after Bronze sensationally scored, with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the chance to send her team through.
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England will next face Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva on Tuesday.
‘That was crazy’
England boss Sarina Wiegman described the action as “one of the hardest games I’ve ever watched”.
Image: Sarina Wiegman after the match. Pic: Reuters
“We could have been out of the game three or four times, when you’re 2-0 at half-time it’s not good,” she said after the match.
“Although we started really bad, at the end it got better, but we didn’t create anything so we had to change shape, and we score two goals – that was crazy.
“We miss a lot [of penalties], and they miss even more. I need to decompress, I think.”
Image: Hannah Hampton still delivered with one nostril down. Pic: Reuters
Goalkeeper Hampton added that it was “stressful watching” and “stressful playing”.
The 24-year-old, who was left with a bloodied nose in extra-time, said: “Every time I saved one, I was just thinking ‘please put it in, so we have a bit of a cushion!’
“To be honest, I think I was better in the game when I had one nostril than when I was completely fine!”
She said it was the support of the England fans that helped the team push on. She said: “They were definitely behind me and I appreciate all the support.”
Image: Michelle Agyemang reacts after levelling the game for the Lionesses. Pic: Reuters
Their journey in the group stages started with a 2-1 defeat to France, but hopes were lifted after England sailed past the Netherlands and Wales to reach the knockout stages, finishing second in Group D.
Sweden on the other hand went into Thursday’s game unbeaten in the tournament so far, having already defeated Germany, Poland and Denmark in the group stages.
By the time Hannah Hampton appeared in the news conference, the England goalkeeper was relieved, ecstatic and wanting to share this night far and wide.
So when her phone started ringing with a FaceTime call, she broke off speaking to the media about reaching the Euros semi-finals to answer it.
And then share the call with the room in Zurich.
After such a nerve-shredding night, this was the moment to relax and just savour it all.
Savour how close they came to throwing it all away against Sweden before staging a stirring comeback inspired by Lucy Bronze.
The 33-year-old scored the goal that began the fightback with 11 minutes to go and converted England’s final penalty in the shootout.
Image: Lucy Bronze converted England’s final penalty. Pic: Reuters
“Lucy Bronze is one of a kind,” England manager Sarina Wiegman said. “It’s that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair.”
The Lionesses looked down and out, 2-0 down after 25 minutes.
Completely outplayed. A defence run ragged. Just too sloppy.
“We said at half-time we don’t want to go home,” Hampton said. “So it’s up to us to turn the game around.”
Image: Things were not looking good for England by half-time. Pic: Reuters
Image: But the team managed to turn things around. Pic: Reuters
That only came after Wiegman deployed the substitutes the manager calls “finishers”.
They fulfilled their mission.
“Sweden in that moment had to adapt to some different things in the game,” Wiegman said, “before they could, it was 2-2.”
Within seconds of coming on, match-winner Chloe Kelly showed the missing spirit. The spirit that saw her score the Euro 2022 winner.
Image: Pic: Reuters
A creator of two goals in 103 seconds.
A cross headed in with 11 minutes to go by Bronze – the only player still playing from the Euro 2013 group-stage elimination.
It was a lifeline seized on so quickly.
Another cross from Kelly was this time brought down by Beth Mead before Michelle Agyemang.
The timeliest of goals from the teen – a first tournament goal on her third appearance as a sub.
Image: Teenager Michelle Agyemang reacts after scoring England’s second goal in normal time. Pic: Reuters
But there would be the anxiousness of extra time to follow, unable to find a breakthrough.
So to the shootout that lasted 14 penalties between them.
Hampton said: “It was stressful watching and playing, I thought every single time when I saved one, ‘Please score and give us a cushion’. I feel so happy and relieved.”
Around Alessia Russo and Kelly scoring there were four England misses before Bronze converted England’s seventh and Sweden missed a fifth.