(Paris) The Meta group (Facebook, Instagram) launched its social network Threads in the EU on Thursday, a direct rival to X, which was until now unavailable there, but with a particular option to adapt to the continent’s regulations .

Meta had brought Threads online to the rest of the world in July, but preferred to delay its arrival in the EU to allow time to study the implication of European regulations. “Today we are opening Threads to more countries in Europe. Welcome everyone,” wrote group CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his Threads account.

With this microblogging platform associated with Instagram and with characteristics similar to those of X, Meta openly aims to compete with the network bought by Elon Musk.

Threads quickly racked up tens of millions of registrations across the world this summer, but Meta took the time to clarify the implications of the EU’s Digital Markets Regulation (DMA) which tightens anti-competition rules.

“In order to comply with European regulations”, the group offered an additional option reserved for users in the EU and the European Economic Area, allowing them to consult Threads even without an Instagram account, but with reduced functions.

On the other hand, as in the rest of the world, only Instagram users (two billion in total) can create a Threads account and the two accounts are linked.

“Citizens of the European Economic Area (EU 27, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) will be able to choose to create a Threads profile linked to their Instagram account, which will allow them to benefit from the same experience as all other citizens of the world, or to use Threads without a profile” but in this case “without being able to interact with the content,” Meta clarified.

These users without a profile will be able to “browse Threads app content, search for accounts, share content via link copying or platform sharing, and report Threads content.”