Whatsapp Is Launching Third-party Chat Integration In Europe

Meta is connected nan cusp of launching third-party integration pinch WhatsApp successful Europe — thing that’s required by nan Digital Markets Act (DMA). It’s rolling retired “over nan coming months” pinch WhatsApp’s level of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) maintained.

Meta says that BirdyChat and Haiket will beryllium nan first third-party services to instrumentality messaging interoperability pinch WhatsApp. No, we haven’t heard of them either, but that’s what leveling nan playing section looks like.

WhatsApp users successful Europe will yet spot a notification successful nan settings tab that will explicate really to opt-in to 3rd statement messaging. It will activity successful WhatsApp for iOS and Android, but not connected desktops, web, aliases tablets. 

Meta says that “third-party messaging apps must usage nan aforesaid level of E2EE arsenic WhatsApp,” and Meta can’t spot encrypted messages successful transit. Content tin see text, photos, videos, sound messages, and documents. It will besides only activity for users pinch a WhatsApp relationship registered to telephone numbers successful regions covered by nan DMA, according to nan FAQ.

In September, Meta previewed what third-party integration pinch WhatsApp and Messenger will look like. Notably, users will beryllium presented pinch nan prime of receiving third-party messages successful a abstracted files aliases mixed inbox. Meta besides said it would punctual users “each clip a caller third-party messaging app becomes available.”

Meta warns that third-party apps “might grip your information differently” than it would — is that a bad thing?