Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is set to introduce third-party integration with the messaging app in Europe, following the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This integration, expected to roll out over the next few months, will maintain WhatsApp’s robust end-to-end encryption (E2EE) standards.
According to The Verge, BirdyChat and Haiket are poised to be the first third-party services to offer messaging interoperability with WhatsApp, aligning with DMA regulations aimed at promoting fair competition.
WhatsApp users across Europe will soon receive in-app notifications guiding them on how to opt-in to third-party messaging. This feature will be accessible on WhatsApp for both iOS and Android platforms, although not yet available on desktop or tablet versions.
Meta emphasizes that any third-party messaging applications integrating with WhatsApp must adhere to the same stringent E2EE standards as WhatsApp itself. This means that Meta will not have visibility into encrypted messages during transit. Users can expect support for various content types, including text, photos, videos, voice messages, and documents.
Meta’s demonstration of third-party integration gave users the option to receive these messages in a dedicated folder or merge them into a combined inbox. Additionally, Meta pledged to inform users each time a new third-party messaging service becomes accessible.
As with any data-sharing feature, Meta cautions that third-party apps may handle user data differently than WhatsApp does, sparking questions about data privacy and security.
Source: The Verge