Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp and Messenger, has announced plans to allow messages from other apps to be integrated into its platforms for users in the European Union. This change is in response to new EU regulations aimed at increasing competition in the digital market.
Starting soon, EU users will be able to receive messages from third-party apps directly in their WhatsApp and Messenger chats. They can choose to keep these messages separate or mix them with their existing chats. Users will also receive notifications when new apps become compatible.
The integration will also include rich messaging features like reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts. Group chats with third-party users will be introduced in 2025, while support for voice and video calls from other apps is planned for 2027.
This change is required by the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which aims to reduce the dominance of large tech companies in the messaging market. Meta is considered a “digital gatekeeper” and must make its messaging apps interoperable with others.
For third-party apps to be compatible, they will need to use the Signal Protocol for encryption to ensure message privacy. Meta will provide access to this protocol upon request.
Other messaging apps like iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal could potentially integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger. This could significantly impact how people communicate in the EU, giving users more choice and flexibility.
However, there are challenges ahead. Ensuring privacy and security across different platforms will be crucial. Additionally, getting other companies to agree to Meta’s terms and technical requirements may be difficult.
Despite these challenges, Meta claims it has “gone above and beyond” the basic requirements for interoperability, offering advanced features to enhance the user experience.
The rollout of these features will begin soon for EU users. Other messaging apps will need to decide if they want to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger. Users should watch for notifications about new app compatibility.
This move shows a shift in messaging apps for EU users. While it offers more choice and flexibility, the success of this integration will depend on how smoothly Meta can implement these changes and how many other messaging apps choose to participate.
