Some Messenger and Instagram features are temporarily unavailable to users in Europe in order to comply with the new data usage rules that are currently being implemented in EU countries.
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Affected users see alerts on Facebook-owned apps indicating that some features are not available to “comply with the new rules of messaging services in Europe.”
The alert does not specify which features are missing, however The Verge notes that polls on Messenger and Instagram are currently disabled in Europe, while stickers on Instagram are not available, as are personalized replies on Messenger. Currently, each support page for the above features contains the warning:
This feature may not be available if you are located in Europe or send a message to an account based in Europe to comply with the new messaging service rules. We are working to get it back.
Temporary changes are said to be Facebook’s compliance with the national implementations of the 2002 ePrivacy Directive (ePrivacy Directive), which imposes stricter rules on the use of data between the communications services they operate. in countries that are part of the EU.
Other missing features may include disabling file sending to Messenger, missing nicknames, and the ability to share RA effects to DMs on Instagram.
UK users are also lacking in functions, because EU law continues to apply in the UK during the Brexit transition period (which currently extends until 31 December 2020).
Facebook has not given a specific deadline to restore the missing features, but it has The Verge they would return “very soon.”