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Details
- Meta is introducing WhatsApp’s third-party interoperability in Europe, enabling users to message people on external apps such as BirdyChat and Haiket.
- This move aligns with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires large tech platforms to offer messaging interoperability with rivals.
- European WhatsApp users on iOS and Android can opt-in to chat and share images, videos, voice notes, and files with other platforms, while group chat integration is planned for a later phase.
- All cross-platform communication preserves WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, with technical collaboration over three years to maintain user privacy and app integrity.
- Users can easily enable or disable third-party chat features in WhatsApp settings, retaining full control over their cross-app communications.
Impact
This release marks a landmark enforcement of the DMA, showcasing how regulation can compel dominant platforms to become more open. WhatsApp’s approach sets the tone for technical and privacy standards as Europe pushes cross-app messaging. The shift is likely to encourage other major services to follow suit, signaling a new era of competition and user choice in digital communications across Europe.
