Twitter’s new subscription service, Twitter Blue, has quietly rolled out in the European Union, raising concerns among watchdogs over a lack of prior notice to users.
Twitter Blue, which was launched in the United States, Canada, and Australia in June 2021, is a paid subscription service that offers exclusive features, such as the ability to undo tweets and access to a dedicated customer support team.
According to reports, Twitter Blue was made available to some users in the EU in early February without any prior announcement or notification. This has led to concerns among data protection regulators that Twitter may have breached EU privacy laws by not informing users of the new service.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), which is responsible for enforcing the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), has said that it is looking into the matter.
In a statement, the EDPB said that it was “concerned” about the lack of notice to users and that it would investigate whether Twitter had breached GDPR rules.
“The EDPB is concerned about the lack of transparency and information provided by Twitter to users in the European Union regarding the roll-out of its subscription service Twitter Blue,” the statement read. “The EDPB will investigate this matter to determine whether any provisions of the GDPR have been breached.”
Under GDPR rules, companies are required to inform users in advance of any changes to their services that may affect their privacy rights. Failure to do so can result in significant fines and penalties.
Twitter has yet to comment on the EDPB’s investigation or the concerns raised by watchdogs.
The quiet rollout of Twitter Blue in the EU has also raised concerns among privacy advocates and users, who have criticized the lack of transparency and information provided by the company.
Some users have reported being automatically enrolled in the service and charged without their consent, while others have expressed frustration at the lack of clarity around the features and pricing of Twitter Blue.
The rollout of Twitter Blue in the EU comes as the company faces increasing scrutiny over its data practices and handling of user information.
In December 2020, Twitter was fined €450,000 by the Irish Data Protection Commission for failing to notify authorities of a data breach within 72 hours, as required under GDPR rules.
The company has also faced criticism for its handling of user data and content moderation, with some accusing it of failing to do enough to tackle hate speech and misinformation on its platform.
The quiet rollout of Twitter Blue in the EU has only added to these concerns, with watchdogs and users calling for greater transparency and accountability from the company.
As the EDPB’s investigation gets underway, it remains to be seen what action, if any, will be taken against Twitter. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and compliance with GDPR rules for companies operating in the EU.
