Meta is preparing to expand WhatsApp’s interoperability features across Europe as the company moves to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The update will allow users who opt in to communicate directly with people on selected third-party messaging apps. Meta described the broader rollout as a major step in meeting its regulatory obligations, noting that months of small-scale testing helped validate the technical framework. The company said the DMA “requires Meta to give people using WhatsApp in Europe the option to connect with people using third-party messaging services.”
The initial launch includes support for BirdyChat and Haiket. WhatsApp users on Android and iOS will be able to send messages, images, videos, voice notes and files to users of those apps through a dedicated third-party chats section. Group messaging will be introduced once partner platforms implement the necessary capabilities. Meta said the early phase provides a foundation to expand the system as more services adopt the interoperability standards.
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According to Meta, the interoperability model is built on three principles: preserving end-to-end encryption by requiring third-party apps to meet WhatsApp’s security level, offering a clear onboarding process for users, and ensuring the feature is available across the European region in line with DMA expectations. The company said it has spent more than three years working with EU regulators and European messaging providers to design a solution that balances interoperability with privacy protections, adding that it has “built third-party interoperability, maintaining E2EE and other privacy guarantees in our services as far as possible.”
WhatsApp users in Europe will begin to see notices within the settings menu in the coming months. These prompts will explain the feature and guide users through the opt-in process. Meta emphasised that participation remains optional and that users can deactivate third-party chats at any time, giving them control over how they connect with external messaging services.
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Meta said it will continue to update users as additional features are completed and more third-party apps join the interoperability framework. The company plans to expand capabilities over time to meet DMA requirements and support a broader ecosystem of messaging platforms.
Source: Meta