For months, Facebook and its parent company Meta have been engaged in a battle with European privacy regulators over how the company transfers user data back to the U.S. The social media giant has even threatened to leave Europe entirely if it doesn’t get its way. However, that didn’t stop the EU data protection commissioner from moving to suspend these data transfers this week, giving Meta 28 days to respond to the decision.

In general, European countries have stricter privacy laws than the United States, and several governments were concerned with Facebook’s broad reach and ability to surveil users. However, Meta argues that blocking the flow of data could be devastating to people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Suspending data transfers would be damaging not only to the millions of people, charities and businesses in the EU who use our services, but also to thousands of other companies who rely on EU-US data transfers to provide a global service,” a Meta spokesperson said. “A long-term solution on EU-US data transfers is needed to keep people, businesses and economies connected.”

Right now, the two sides seem pretty far apart on this issue. However, it’s impossible to imagine Facebook leaving the entire European continent, so hopefully the company steps up and strengthens its privacy rules ASAP.

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