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Re:Meta now lets EU users unlink their Facebook, Messenger a... by gevz on Monday January 22, 2024 @12:39PM (#39092506)
Is there a criteria to be qualified as a EU user? I assume there must be more than just geo-ip location. What will happen if I pretend I moved to EU for the sake of decoupling all Facebook accounts.
Re:Meta now lets EU users unlink their Facebook, Messenger a... by reincoder on Monday January 22, 2024 @03:38PM (#39095101)
I work for IPinfo. I often see IP geolocation data being used for compliance purposes, so I will share some insights.

This question relates to algorithms and the definition Facebook has set up for "EU User". What parameters have Facebook's legal team considered adequate to label an account belonging to an EU user? It is difficult to say.

They will probably look into multiple factors like phone number location and GPS-backed data to identify the true location of an EU user. Now, the interesting part is that if you use a VPN quite frequently, you will notice that IP geolocation data is treated as a universal truth on cookieless interactions. Facebook will likely have a significant amount of data beyond IP geolocation data to infer the location information of their user. But they are likely not going to do that as they launch this new feature. So, it all comes down to how seriously Facebook wants or is required to identify an EU user.

Re:Meta now lets EU users unlink their Facebook, Messenger a... by calmoo on Monday January 22, 2024 @12:49PM (#39092691)
These days most accounts are geolocated by your phone number, in my experience anyway.
Re:Meta now lets EU users unlink their Facebook, Messenger a... by gevz on Monday January 22, 2024 @01:06PM (#39092947)
It seems that Facebook proper does not require you to have a phone number. I just tried signing up and there is an option to use email.
Re:Meta now lets EU users unlink their Facebook, Messenger a... by rconti on Monday January 22, 2024 @08:22PM (#39098205)
Same question. EU IP address? For how long? EU citizenship? But EU citizens shouldn't have to send their passport info to Facebook in order to unlink accounts.