Third-Party Chats on WhatsApp Will Allow Users to Select Which Apps to Connect With: Report
WhatsApp is preparing to incorporate support for messages from third-party sources. An exposé has divulged further insights into the mechanics of this novel feature and the degree of autonomy users will wield in granting access to alternative messaging platforms. It emerges that the Meta-owned platform will not merely furnish users with the option to activate or deactivate this functionality but will also afford them the discretion to select the specific applications to interface with. Notably, WhatsApp must roll out this feature before March 6, coinciding with the enforcement date of the European Union’s (EU) new Digital Markets Act (DMA).
As per a disclosure furnished by a report, showcasing a snapshot of the nascent feature extracted from the developer build version 2.24.6.2, the fresh inclusion, dubbed as third-party exchanges, constitutes an interoperability provision tailored for EU jurisdictions. Mandated by the EU, this provision ensures that users can engage in cross-platform communication without necessitating the installation of multiple applications. Upon deployment, WhatsApp users will ostensibly be able to correspond with users on platforms such as Telegram, Signal, and analogous alternatives.
The screenshot depicts a novel interface page housed beneath the designation of Third-party exchanges. Moreover, it exhibits a distinctive icon representing the feature—a messaging symbol adorned with three interlinked circles arranged in a triangular configuration, with one circle adorned in a verdant hue, ostensibly denoting a third-party application. Configuration options to Deactivate third-party exchanges are also discernible, alongside an option titled Preferred applications, poised to empower users in selecting the applications to integrate with.
This meticulous granularity aligns with the directives outlined in the DMA, underscoring the imperative for users to exercise authority over data sharing and communication preferences. Consequently, users are empowered to deliberate whether to leverage this functionality, the duration thereof, and the selection of associated applications. Presently, the slated rollout date for this feature remains undisclosed, with prospects of it being confined within the purview of the European market.
An antecedent report spotlighted an additional interface page pertaining to the feature. Evidently serving as the inaugural screen for the feature, WhatsApp appended numerous cautionary advisories for users to peruse prior to enabling third-party exchanges. While one cautionary notice underscored the absence of end-to-end encryption for messages, another forewarned against an uptick in unsolicited communications and fraudulent schemes.