September
2024
Advanced Voice not available in EU
Advanced Voice, which includes Custom Instructions, Memory, new voices, and improved accents, is not available in the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein due to regulatory constraints. While it supports over 50 languages globally, it has been withheld in these regions due to compliance issues.
September
2024
iPhone Mirroring not available in EU
DMA - Apple has delayed the release of its iPhone Mirroring feature in the EU due to concerns over compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple argues that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could compromise the security and privacy of its devices, leading to the postponement of this feature in the EU.
July
2024
Meta pulls plug on release of advanced AI model in EU
GDPR - Meta will not release its advanced multimodal AI model, Llama 3, in the EU due to concerns over GDPR compliance, especially around using public posts from Facebook and Instagram for model training. Meta cites the complex nature of GDPR regulations as the reason for withholding the product from the EU market.
June
2024
Apple delays launch of AI-powered features in Europe, blaming EU rules
DMA - Apple is delaying the release of several AI-powered features, including Phone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing, and Apple Intelligence, in the EU due to concerns over the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company argues that interoperability requirements could compromise user privacy and security, leading to a postponement of the features' EU launch.
June
2024
Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose
DMA - Apple has disabled key functionality for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) on iPhones in the EU due to the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple says that the complexities of supporting third-party browser engines while maintaining security and privacy for its users led to the decision. As a result, PWAs no longer function like native apps, losing local storage and notification features.
July
2023
Google introduces generative AI in Search, but not yet inside the EU
DMA - Google is holding back its generative AI search functionality in the EU due to concerns about compliance with EU laws, including the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The generative AI in search gathers information from various sources, such as articles and videos, and provides summarized responses, but it is only available in the US and select regions outside the EU for now.
June
2023
Meta will not launch multimodal Llama AI model in EU
GDPR - Meta has chosen not to launch its multimodal Llama AI model in the EU due to concerns over the unpredictable regulatory environment, especially related to GDPR. Multimodal AI models can handle various data formats like text, video, and audio. Meta's concerns primarily relate to using public user data to train the models, which is not permitted under GDPR.
May
2023
Google Pixel AI not working in EU
GDPR - Certain AI-powered features of Google Pixel phones, including advanced Call Screen and Gboard's proofreading, are restricted in the EU due to GDPR compliance challenges. The AI features process sensitive user data, and Google's handling of that data is constrained by the strict data protection requirements of the GDPR, limiting their availability in the EU.
March
2023
Google Maps functionality restricted in EU due to DMA
DMA - Google has removed certain Google Maps functionalities from EU search results, such as direct links to the Maps app, as part of its compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This change is intended to limit Google's ability to promote its own services over competitors in search results and increase competition in the EU market.
December
2022
Android Apple Satellite SOS not available in EU
Satellite SOS, available on Apple and certain Android devices, is restricted to the USA due to differences in satellite communication regulations and infrastructure between regions. The service is designed for emergency situations and relies on satellite networks that are currently only supported in the US.
April
2022
Google Analytics
GDPR - Data transfers to the US not compliant with EU privacy laws. Google Analytics processes user data, including IP addresses, and transfers it to the US without sufficient protections under GDPR, leading to restrictions or bans in certain EU countries.
September
2021
Google Fit Location Tracking
GDPR - Google Fit’s location tracking features were restricted in the EU due to concerns about how location data was processed and shared with third parties without explicit consent from users.
May
2021
Clearview AI
GDPR - Illegally scraping biometric data from the internet. Clearview AI’s facial recognition software, which scrapes images from the web to create facial profiles, violated GDPR by processing biometric data without consent, resulting in a ban across several EU countries.
April
2021
Amazon Rekognition
GDPR - Amazon's facial recognition service, Rekognition, was restricted in the EU due to concerns over its processing of biometric data without adequate safeguards, and the potential for misuse by law enforcement.
March
2021
Apple iCloud Analytics
GDPR - Apple iCloud faced restrictions related to data transfers and analytics reporting due to concerns around the lack of adequate safeguards for data transferred outside the EU, leading to temporary restrictions in some regions.
March
2021
Verkada Security Camera
GDPR - Improper handling and storage of surveillance footage. Verkada’s security cameras stored and shared video footage without appropriate data protection measures, leading to non-compliance with GDPR. This caused restrictions on the service in some EU regions.
February
2021
Messenger Kids (Meta)
GDPR - Stricter rules on processing data from minors. Messenger Kids collects data on children under 13, which violated GDPR protections for minors, requiring consent from parents and stricter controls, leading to restrictions in certain EU countries.
January
2021
WhatsApp Data Sharing with Facebook
GDPR - WhatsApp’s data sharing with Facebook was found to violate EU data protection laws, as users were not given sufficient control over the sharing of their information. This led to the temporary suspension of certain features.
November
2020
Google Photos Face Grouping
GDPR - Google Photos' facial recognition and automatic grouping of people into albums faced restrictions in the EU as it processed biometric data without explicit consent, breaching GDPR regulations.
August
2020
Ring (Amazon) - Law Enforcement Data Sharing
GDPR - Improper sharing of surveillance data with police. Ring’s doorbell cameras shared video footage with law enforcement without proper user consent or transparency, violating GDPR rules and leading to restrictions on this feature in certain EU countries.
July
2020
Google Nest Audio Recording
GDPR - Google Nest’s audio recording features were disabled in the EU after concerns were raised regarding the storage and use of voice recordings without clear user consent or proper data protection measures.
February
2020
Facebook Dating
GDPR - Facebook Dating’s launch in the EU was delayed due to the Irish Data Protection Commission’s concerns over its data protection impact assessment. Facebook had not submitted necessary documentation, leading to compliance issues.
January
2020
Fitbit (Google)
GDPR - Non-compliant sharing of health data with third parties. Fitbit collects sensitive health data and shares it with third parties without clear consent from users, violating GDPR. This led to restrictions in parts of the EU until compliance was ensured.
February
2019
Facebook Research App
GDPR - The Facebook Research App, which paid users to collect extensive data on their phone usage, was pulled from the EU market due to violations of GDPR’s consent and transparency requirements.
May
2018
Uber Location Tracking Always-On
GDPR - Uber’s always-on location tracking feature, which tracked users even when the app was not in use, was found to violate GDPR’s data minimization principles, leading to the removal of the feature in the EU.
January
2018
Strava Heat Map
GDPR - Strava’s global heat map, which visualizes users’ running and cycling routes, was found to inadvertently expose sensitive locations, including military bases, leading to restrictions in the EU.
May
2010
Google Street View
GDPR - Privacy concerns related to the collection of images and location data. Google Street View collects and processes images of individuals and properties without consent, violating GDPR’s privacy provisions. This led to the suspension or delay of the service in some EU countries.