>meta knows that they are far far more popular in the population than politicians, and politicians know that if they were to effectively stop facebook, the blowback would be immediate.
If Facebook doesn't want to operate in a region where they're unable to accept payments from local residents that's their business.
what do you honestly think would happen? facebook says "we cannot serve the EU because your politicians made it illegal". People would immediately demand facebook be put back, and the politicians would have to comply, or be replaced. They would comply
You are so naive. EU residents aren't stupid and don't particularly like it when foreign companies try to manipulate them, much less ignore the law. Should Facebook choose to pull their services out of the EU the world will keep turning, and people will find alternatives.
If Facebook doesn't want to operate in a region where they're unable to accept payments from local residents that's their business.