WhatsApp is testing a feature that allows users to chat with people outside the platform who are using different messaging apps, this move comes in response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposed by the European Union to improve competition among tech companies.
The new law, which is already in effect, forces tech companies to comply with a set of strict rules, including enabling users to communicate through different messaging apps.
WhatsApp is one of the platforms that will be required to comply with the new regulations set by the European Union in the Digital Markets Act, as it has a large user base and falls under the criteria outlined in the law.
The new feature was spotted in the latest beta version of the WhatsApp app for Android, it introduces a new section for “Third-Party Chats.” However, the feature is still under development and not yet ready for use.
WhatsApp will have a six-month grace period to fully comply with the Digital Markets Act and provide “interoperability of chats” to users in the European Union, this feature may later be made available to users worldwide.
This upcoming feature is expected to enhance communication between users who rely on different messaging apps, for example, someone using Telegram or Signal could send a message to a WhatsApp user without requiring them to have an account on WhatsApp.
While this feature holds the potential to improve cross-app communication, concerns have been raised regarding message encryption and privacy.
