Meta has announced that WhatsApp users in Europe will soon be able to message people using other messaging services that are interoperable with WhatsApp, due to the interoperability requirements under the Digital Market Acts. This marks a big win as it creates a more equal playing field for smaller messaging services, which will soon have a greater chance of being used. It also signifies a positive change for people in Europe who will have more choice when it comes to how and over which platform they choose to message people.

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Say hello to chat interoperability!

Meta has announced it’s preparing to launch WhatsApp third-party chat interoperability for its users in Europe, which will be rolled out over the coming months. This means that WhatsApp users will have an option to chat with users on alternative messaging apps such as BirdyChat and Haiket directly, using a feature called third-party chats.

This feature is available as an opt-in for users on iOS and Android. With third-party chats, you will be able to message, send images, videos, voice messages, and files to users on messaging apps that have enabled interoperability with WhatsApp. Creating groups with third-party users on other platforms will not be possible initially, but it will become available in the future.

With the announcement of third-party chat integration, Meta also emphasized that the development had taken more than three years of work with European messaging services and the European Commission to ensure the solution met the requirements of the DMA while also preserving its users’ privacy and security.

We have built third-party interoperability, maintaining E2EE and other privacy guarantees in our services as far as possible”, Meta said.

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Positive changes ahead

BirdyChat and Haiket are the first two messaging apps that will initially be interoperable with WhatsApp. While these apps may not be popular or well known, the development of third-party messaging integration into Meta’s WhatsApp is still a great achievement because:

1. Meta is complying with the EU’s DMA

Meta is an American-owned Tech Giant that profits from the ad-based business model. It’s known for it’s rampant and invasive data collection practices and processing – which it often gets criticized and sometimes punished for in the European Union.

For example, in 2023, the EU banned personalized ads on FaceBook and Instagram, and earlier this year it came under fire for using the public data of EU citizens despite GDPR data protection to train AI models – on which the tech giant argues it needed the data out of “Legitimate interest.”

But now, Meta sees itself pressured into adhering to the DMA regulation, which is a positive step in the right direction and might break the messaging monopoly that WhatsApp currently holds over in the EU and beyond. With becoming interoperable, smaller messaging apps finally get the chance to compete in the market and gain market share, which might lead to better services, more privacy, and a fairer treatment of users.

Implementing changes due to requirements of the EU’s DMA is not exclusive to Meta. Other tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are also required to make changes due to the DMA, but often find sneaky loopholes in the system. A perfect example is how the DMA required Apple to allow for app sideloading on iOS devices: Apple made this possible BUT with a catch, it would charge any developers who take this route absurd commission fees – a perfect example of malicious compliance.

So, considering how other tech giants have maliciously complied, Meta making WhatsApp Messenger interoperable is a step in the right direction.

2. Greater freedom of choice for Europeans

Like choosing an email provider and being able to send emails to anyone, the same will be possible in the future for WhatsApp users in Europe. The more messengers that become interoperable with WhatsApp – the more freedom of choice people have to choose different messenger platforms. This is also important because it gives small players a chance to gain customers and enter the market.

Speaking from personal experience, the introduction of Meta AI in my WhatsApp and other unwanted features like ads in WhatsApp stories this year has given me more than enough reason to switch to a WhatsApp alternative. Now, what is even better is that if I do decide to ditch WhatsApp entirely, I’ll soon be able to message my friends and family who aren’t ready to switch from WhatsApp. And all thanks to the DMA!

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What’s next

As reported by Heise Online, Signal and Threema will not establish connections allowing for interoperability with WhatsApp. Both of these end-to-end encrypted messengers are known for their strong stance on privacy and security, and neither of them plans to change their security standards to become compatible with the Meta-owned instant messenger.

While it’s clear these messengers will not become interoperable, there are still other good privacy-focused messenger apps that could become interoperable with WhatsApp in the future, and there’s always the possibility that new messenger platforms will be developed to be interoperable with WhatsApp.

For example, Element is an open-source messenger platform built on the decentralized Matrix protocol. It allows you to send end-to-end encrypted messages, and it’s interoperable, meaning you can communicate with others on different chat platforms. While Element hasn’t said it would become interoperable with WhatsApp, Matthew Hodgson, the cofounder of Matrix, which operates Element, confirmed to Wired that Matrix had worked with WhatsApp on interoperability in an “experimental” way. But he did not say more or confirm that full interoperability would be on the roadmap in the future. Regardless, it’s an exciting idea and sounds promising.

Overall, this pressure put on Meta by the DMA is a step in the right direction, and it’s good to see a Big Tech comply with the EU policy regulation. In the meantime, if you’re tired of WhatsApp, we’d recommend taking a look at these best alternatives.

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