The requirement for a Threads user to delete his or her Instagram account when wanting to delete Threads account raises important considerations regarding users’ rights, particularly in the context of the EU Digital Services Act 2023 (DSA). Our analyst examines this feature from the perspective of user rights.
Right to Data Portability: Under the DSA, users have the right to data portability, which means they should have the ability to easily transfer their personal data between different service providers. By mandating the deletion of the Instagram account along with Threads, this feature could potentially hinder users’ ability to exercise their right to data portability.
Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): The DSA grants users the right to have their personal data erased or “forgotten” under certain circumstances. However, by requiring the deletion of the entire Instagram account, including associated data, Threads’ feature may not adequately respect this right. Users may want to delete their Threads account while still retaining their Instagram profile and data.
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Transparency and Consent: The DSA emphasizes the importance of transparency and user consent regarding data processing activities. Users should have clear information about the data being collected, how it is used, and the ability to provide specific consent for different services. Bundling the deletion of the Instagram account with Threads without providing users with granular control over their data erasure choices might be seen.
Right to Free Choice and Lock-in: Users should have the freedom to choose and switch between digital services without undue barriers or lock-in effects. Requiring the deletion of an entire Instagram account to remove Threads could create a sense of lock-in, as users might hesitate to delete their Instagram presence due to the potential loss of connections, followers, or content that they value.
In light of these considerations, the requirement to delete an Instagram account along with a Threads account might raise concerns regarding the compliance of this feature with the EU Digital Services Act 2023. To ensure the protection of users’ rights, it would be advisable for services like Threads to provide more granular control over data erasure and allow users to exercise their rights without unnecessary limitations or dependencies on other accounts.
