Meta has launched third-party chat integration on WhatsApp across the European Union, complying with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) for the first time since the law came into effect in March 2024. This rollout, following more than three years of collaboration between Meta, European messaging services, and the European Commission, requires WhatsApp to enable interoperability with other messaging platforms designated as “gatekeepers” under the DMA.
Initially, the integration supports two apps, BirdyChat and Haiket, allowing users to exchange messages, images, voice notes, videos, and files directly within WhatsApp without switching apps. This feature is currently available only on iOS and Android mobile devices, excluding desktop and tablet versions. Group chat functionality involving third-party users will be enabled once partner platforms are ready.
Meta emphasizes security compliance by mandating that all third-party messaging services implement the same level of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) as WhatsApp, which relies on the Signal Protocol. This ensures users’ communication privacy is preserved, with messages being routed directly between the apps without WhatsApp decrypting them.
The third-party chat feature is optional, with European users receiving notifications in the WhatsApp Settings tab explaining how to opt in. Users can activate or deactivate the integration at any time. Meta plans to expand interoperability to additional messaging platforms over time, continuously updating users as more partners join the ecosystem.
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