Technology @lemmy.world iturnedintoanewt @lemm.ee 1 yr. ago

Whatsapp has begun working on support for third party chats (Telegram/Signal)

wabetainfo.com /whatsapp-beta-for-android-2-23-19-8-whats-new/

The European Union has recently reached an agreement on a significant competition reform known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will impose strict rules on large tech companies that will have to offer users the ability to communicate with each other using different apps. WhatsApp is one of the companies that will be required to comply with the new regulations outlined in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. This is because WhatsApp is considered a gatekeeper service since it’s a large tech platform with a substantial user base and falls within the criteria set by the DMA. With the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on complying with the new regulations:

As you can see in this screenshot, WhatsApp is working on a new section dedicated to the new regulations. Since it is still in development, this section is still not ready, it appears empty and it’s not accessible to users, but its title confirms to us that they are now working on it. WhatsApp has a 6-month period to align the app with the new European regulations to provide its interoperability service in the European Union. At the moment, it remains unclear whether this feature will also eventually extend to countries beyond the European Union.

Interoperability will allow other people to contact users on WhatsApp even if they don’t have a WhatsApp account. For example, someone from the Signal app could send a message to a WhatsApp user, even without a WhatsApp account. While this broader network can definitely enhance communication with those people who use different messaging apps and assist those small apps in competing within the messaging app industry, we acknowledge that this approach may also raise important considerations about end-to-end encryption when receiving a message from users who don’t use WhatsApp. In this context, as this feature is still in its early stages of development, detailed technical information about this process on WhatsApp as a gatekeeper is currently very limited, but we can confirm that end-to-end encryption will have to be preserved in interoperable messaging systems. In addition, as mentioned in Article 7 of the regulations, it appears that users may have the option to opt out when it will be available in the future.

Third-party chat support is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app. As always, we will share a new article when we have further information regarding this feature.

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118 comments

How about starting with the company who says you have to buy their phone to use their messenger. If Apple isn't eventually considered a gatekeeper, then this is a joke.
Up to a month ago, people were irritated and would constantly complain about having to use "too many chat apps" to talk with people. The EU then demands messaging apps to be interoperable, now people are irritated and will constantly complain that they do not want to send messages to X service or participate in Y service group chats

It's comical
People who use Telegram and Signal wants to avoid Facebook at all cost and Zuck comes up with shit.
If each chat connection gets a unique ID and zero info on my [pseudo]identity then that's great! Otherwise if this means they'll plug me into their social network to profile me that way - nah, thanks
Yeah, I'm not linking my other messaging services to WhatsApp. I'm good.
Different apps being able to communicate sounds similar to the fediverse! Would be nice if there was a common protocol/library every messenger would use and clients would only need to implement it.
I do not trust Whatsapp to provide the security of a signal conversation. Who wants signal and WhatsApp to talk to each other ?
As a Signal user this will be very much welcome. I abandoned FB and its messenger to cut down on aplications on my phone and giving a fat f-u to that cancer. Then I had to jump on Discord to keep in contact with friends but I just don't like it. If I can Signal all my contacts regardless the bag of bricks they're using, it will be a win.
Like a lot of the comments here, I misunderstood it from the headline

The European Union has recently reached an agreement on a significant competition reform known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will impose strict rules on large tech companies that will have to offer users the ability to communicate with each other using different apps.

I didn't know this was a thing, what other apps/platforms are affected by this?

Interoperability will allow other people to contact users on WhatsApp even if they don’t have a WhatsApp account. For example, someone from the Signal app could send a message to a WhatsApp user, even without a WhatsApp account.

So it's about being able to message someone from Signal to Whatsapp. That might be a good thing for Signal/Telegram users, since you always have the option to NOT message someone from those platforms.

What I'm curious about is what data Facebook can collect from a Signal user. I assume Signal will take steps to block third party data harvesting, assuming this even goes through. There's a similar issue with Threads and other for profit companies joining the fediverse. At least with Signal there isn't that much data to begin with. I think Fediverse platforms also need some more safeguards on the privacy/security side.
I heard that Signal said that they won't interoperate with WhatsApp and such? Some blog was going on about that.
Its literally required ( in some way ) in the EU. with the new DMA.
For me it’s really good news, but I understand why some people would worry about encryption and the data transmitted to bad companies.

Still, I’m sure it’ll also be reglemented and as long as you can opt out, I’m fine with it.
Does this legalize Matrix Bridges?
Very useful if implemented well
Will they do this everywhere, or only in the European Union?
and they want to join the Fediverse too, they are acting like the guy that wants to fit in by force. It all smells like some monopoly shenanigans
Nice try, Mark.

I'm not sharing my pr0n with you.
Does the law apply to Telegram the same way? If not, why not?
ffs finally
No E2EE is a dealbreaker for messaging apps these days because of the rampant data leaks on social media and messenger platforms. And, I don't believe E2EE is effective on centralized apps since they still store our chat histories on their cloud servers. Digital issues have become more frequent and severe in the Web 2.0 era, primarily due to the actions of major tech companies and other powerful entities and their monopolistic behaviors. I hope more people realize that Web 3.0 is on the horizon. It's not just about crypto; it represents decentralization and digital democracy. No more concerns about privacy breaches, identity exposures, or data leaks.
Try WireMin, I've been using it for a month, E2EE for dms, voice call, chat rooms, feed, pic or file transfers, P2P network. Its different with Signal/Telegram, which are run by a single company and could exit the UK if they have to. It is decentralized, it can't be controlled or banned by anyone.
misleading title. it's not "whatsapp working on third party chats", it's actually "meta is working on syphoning data off third party messenger software because european apperatschiks are high on lobbyist money".

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