All good things must come to an end. In a response to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, Twitter has announced that it will no longer support video-based apps on Xbox, Roku and Android TV. In a tweet earlier today, the tech company stated, “On Thursday, May 24, Twitter for Roku, Twitter for Android TV and Twitter for Xbox will no longer be available. To get the full Twitter experience, visit https://twitter.com on your device or desktop.”
On Thursday, May 24, Twitter for Roku, Twitter for Android TV and Twitter for Xbox will no longer be available. To get the full Twitter experience, visit https://t.co/fuPJa3nVky on your device or desktop.
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) May 22, 2018
The change will go into effect just a day before the EU’s GDPR goes into effect. As CNN Tech’s Ivana Kottasova explains, GDPR “gives people more control over their personal data and forces companies to make sure the way they collect, process and store data is safe. The EU hopes to achieve a fundamental change in the way companies think about data — its central idea is “privacy by default.”
This combination of this regulation and Twitter’s announcement is especially frustrating for Xbox, Roku and Android TV users. In April, Twitter announced over 30 new and renewed video content deals, which include partnerships with ESPN, NBC Universal, Vice Media and Will Packer Media. These deals will include content relating to entertainment, lifestyle and sports.
