Last week, the European Union officially designated six major tech companies as potential gatekeepers, in accordance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Shortly thereafter, as initially reported by WABetaInfo, a beta version of WhatsApp introduced a novel feature termed “third-party chats,” marking the inaugural instance of the EU’s fresh regulatory framework in action.
This innovative screen emerges within an Android app development version of the renowned messaging platform, distinct from the default WhatsApp inbox. As of now, it remains functionally dormant, but the concept behind it is to enable users to access a dedicated menu for viewing incoming messages from individuals employing alternative messaging applications.
When the EU unveiled the list of six gatekeepers—Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft—it segmented them into various categories encompassing core platform services. This segmentation explains why certain companies are featured in multiple lists.
For instance, Google operates numerous services that could qualify as gatekeeping services, including various “intermediation” services like Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Shopping, alongside the company’s advertising delivery system, web browser (Chrome), operating system (Android), search engine, and video-sharing platform (YouTube).
Meta similarly occupies multiple categories, running two dominant social networks (Facebook and Instagram), an intermediation service (Meta Marketplace), and an advertising platform. Additionally, in one specific category, Meta stands out as the unequivocal leader—the realm of messaging apps.
The EU employs the acronym N-IICS to refer to messaging apps, signifying Number-Independent Interpersonal Communication Service. This term is regulatory shorthand to specify that the focus is on messaging, excluding traditional text messages. The two messaging apps covered by the DMA are WhatsApp and Messenger.
In 2022, the EU emphasized the importance of interoperability among messaging platforms for gatekeepers. This implies that individuals using Signal, Telegram, or Snapchat will soon be able to communicate with WhatsApp and Messenger users without needing to create accounts on those platforms.
This brings us to today’s unveiling of the new Android beta version of WhatsApp. The WhatsApp development team has commenced work on achieving interoperability, as Meta faces a tight deadline to incorporate support for third-party messengers. Gatekeepers must comply with the full set of obligations within six months, ensuring that interoperability should be fully operational by March 2024.
You might be wondering why Apple’s messaging protocol, iMessage, isn’t included among the core messaging services. Apple contends that its messaging service doesn’t yet meet the threshold of 45 million+ users—at least, not at this point in time.
The approach Meta adopts for implementing interoperability in WhatsApp, particularly with regard to advanced features such as file sharing, video calls, and audio messages, will be intriguing to observe. Ensuring end-to-end encryption functions seamlessly with third-party services presents an additional challenge. In essence, this marks the commencement of a technically significant project for the WhatsApp team.
