Meta, the parent company of Facebook released an update announcing upcoming major changes that would allow both their messaging apps i.e. WhatsApp & Messenger to interop with other third-party apps in Europe. This is to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The act requires large companies and platforms to ensure interoperability with third-party apps to promote competition. As the saying goes, the United States invents, China imitates, and Europe regulates.
The process that began a year ago (2023) and is expected to run through 2027. The first phase which will be rolled out in 2025 will include third-party chats and group functionalities while third-party voice and video functionalities will not be available until sometime in 2027. Meta said they are currently building Notifications on WhatsApp and Messenger that will let users know when alternative third-party messaging apps are available.
They further noted that they are introducing information flow on their 2 messaging apps to help European users familiarize themselves with the upcoming changes. With the third-party chats users will be able to choose either to set up a designated folder(inbox) for third-party messages or opt for a combined inbox. In terms of the infrastructure interoperability solution will be built on Meta’s existing client/server architecture and will require clients to connect through it. This will make the process more seamless and will “lower barriers for new entrants”.
Just like you would rightly guess, one of the major concerns in this process is security. Currently, Meta apps use signal protocol for their end-to-end encryption(E2EE). To protect users in their agreement with third-party apps, Meta will require third-party apps to embrace signal as their preferred security protocol, or in the event they choose to use an alternative they will need to demonstrate the same security level guarantee as the signal protocol. Meta, however, made it clear that this process will fundamentally change how they view security as this will now be a shared responsibility between them and third-party messaging apps that sign up. This is an interesting development, and we will keep an eye to see how it plays out in the coming months.
