Twitter’s lead European Union privateness regulator mentioned on Tuesday she was involved that the Elon Musk-owned US agency had launched its Twitter Blue subscription service within the area with out consulting her workplace, regardless of a pledge to take action.
Twitter, which didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, has in latest days launched the service in a number of EU markets, providing the type of blue examine mark beforehand free for verified accounts of public figures to anybody ready to pay. It was launched final yr within the US.
Eire’s Knowledge Safety Commissioner Helen Dixon, Twitter’s lead EU regulator because of the location of its European headquarters in Dublin, mentioned the service raised privateness points together with round verification of accounts to stop customers posing as public figures.
“We’re slightly bit extra involved this week now that we see that the blue tick subscription service is rolling out right here in EU international locations having been reassured that it wasn’t going to roll out within the EU and positively not earlier than there have been discussions with our workplace,” Dixon mentioned in an interview.
Whereas no formal inquiry has been launched “we’re at a heightened state of contact with Twitter,” she mentioned, describing session previous to a product launch as “greatest follow.”
Dixon in November expressed concern in regards to the affect of steep job cuts on Twitter’s potential to fulfill privateness obligations following billionaire Musk’s takeover the earlier month.
Twitter now has a “very robust” knowledge safety officer, she mentioned.
“However past the info safety workplace, there are clearly different forces at play. And we have to perceive slightly bit extra about these,” Dixon added.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
