Meta has unveiled a new feature enabling WhatsApp users in the European Union to communicate seamlessly with contacts on third-party messaging platforms. This rollout is part of Meta's effort to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates interoperability among messaging services within the bloc.
Starting in the coming months, WhatsApp users across Europe will have the option to engage in conversations with users on BirdyChat and Haiket, two interoperable messaging apps. Meta highlighted that this initiative is the culmination of over three years of collaboration with European messaging services and regulators to develop a solution that satisfies DMA requirements while upholding privacy and security standards.
Meta outlined three fundamental principles guiding this new feature:
- Ensuring user privacy and security: Third-party messaging services integrated with WhatsApp must implement the same end-to-end encryption (E2EE) protocols as WhatsApp itself.
- Providing a straightforward user experience: Users will benefit from a simple onboarding process and clear information about the key differences between WhatsApp chats and those with third-party services.
- Availability focused on the European region: In compliance with the DMA, this interoperability feature will be limited to users within the European Union.
The feature will be accessible on both Android and iOS devices. When the rollout begins, WhatsApp users in Europe will receive a notification in the Settings menu, guiding them on how to enable third-party chats.
After opting in, users can exchange text messages, voice notes, images, videos, and files with contacts using supported third-party apps. Importantly, this connectivity is optional and can be toggled on or off at any time by the user.
Meta also confirmed that the interoperability protocols were designed to preserve end-to-end encryption and maintain privacy protections "as far as possible" across interconnected services.
