WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable in the EU to comply with the DMA
In response to the newly enacted Digital Market Act (DMA) in the European Union, Meta has outlined significant modifications to WhatsApp and Messenger. These changes are intended to facilitate interoperability with third-party messaging services, while maintaining key privacy features such as end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
The first year of the DMA stipulates that 1:1 text messaging, along with the sharing of images, voice messages, videos, and other attached files between individual end users, must be interoperable. Future requirements will extend to group functionality and calling.
Third-party providers seeking to interoperate will need to sign an agreement with either Messenger or WhatsApp. Meta has released the WhatsApp Reference Offer for third-party providers, detailing the requirements for interoperability with the service. A similar offer for Messenger is expected soon.
Meta has a three-month window to enable interoperability once a request is received from other services. However, it cautions that the functionality may not be immediately available for public use.
Meta's approach to interoperability is designed to meet the DMA requirements while ensuring a feasible approach for third-party providers interested in interoperability, and “maximizing user security and privacy”.
In terms of privacy and security, Meta will utilize the Signal Protocol as the basis for end-to-end encrypted communications. This protocol is currently considered the gold standard for E2EE chats.
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Related news
External links
- Making messaging interoperability with third parties safe for users in EuropeMeta • Official source
- Meta explains how WhatsApp’s encrypted chats will work with third-party servicesThe Verge
- To comply with DMA, WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable via Signal protocolTechCrunch
- Here's how WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable with other messaging appsAndroid Authority
- Meta Details WhatsApp and Messenger Interoperability to Comply with EU's DMA RegulationsThe Hacker News
- Here's how WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable in the EUAndroid Central
Comments
Great, but your security will only be as good as the weakest client. WhatsApp is basically spyware that pretends to be a safe messaging client. It also uses the Signal protocol, which means it is encrypted end-to-end, but it is closed source and it is my understanding that they built in a feature that allows a hidden chat participant to join. This means that in principle the encryption isn't broken, but effectively you have a third party potentially seeing the contents of your messages. No thanks.
If this interoperability comes to fruition, then I will tell whatever WhatsApp user that tries to reach out to me, that I expect them to use Signal if I want the message to be really secure.
EU is doing much appreciated work
Awesome! I'm glad to see end to end encryption becoming important to users and companies complying. Though, I do really love the matrix protocol too.