A number of companies have been forced to suspend services for European users due to the cost of staying compliant with new data protection law that comes into effect on Friday, giving just days notice to customers.

Apps including games, organisational tools, blockchain and graphics services used by thousands of people are throwing in the towel over concerns they may be fined if found to be in breach of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Mobile marketing giant Verve is moving operations out of Europe - shutting offices in the UK and Germany - ahead of the legal overhaul, but will keep its offices in the US.

The EU market post-GDPR was a “contributing factor” to the departure as it has become “challenging to have to operate any data-driven adtech business in a highly legislated market,” Verve’s general manager Ian James told The Drum.

The impact of GDPR is already being felt by UK consumers as some services that have headquarters outside of Europe are shutting them off to avoid hefty fines if found to be in breach. Instapaper, a popular app that saves web pages to be read later on a smartphone or Kindle, warned European residents the service will be suspended until it is compliant.