Meta Unveils WhatsApp and Messenger Interoperability Timeline Under EU Law
Meta outlines a multi-year plan to let third-party messaging apps connect with WhatsApp and Messenger, with voice and video calling arriving by 2027. The changes aim to satisfy European Digital Markets Act requirements while maintaining strict end-to-end encryption standards.
Meta publishes an update detailing its plan to comply with the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) regarding its messaging platforms, WhatsApp and Messenger. The company builds new notifications and onboarding flows into both apps to inform users about upcoming third-party messaging integrations. Users have the option to create a dedicated folder for these external messages or choose to combine them with their standard chats.
The tech giant rolls out these interoperability features in stages over the next several years. Group chat functionality for third-party services arrives in 2025, followed by voice and video calling capabilities in 2027. Meta also promises to add rich messaging features like reactions, typing indicators, and read receipts for third-party conversations at an unspecified future date.
Despite this detailed timeline, the success of these interoperability features remains uncertain. WhatsApp requires third-party apps to maintain end-to-end encryption, which presents significant technical hurdles for outside developers. Additionally, it is unclear if major competitors like Telegram and Viber will agree to Meta's required integration agreements to make these cross-platform connections a reality.