WhatsApp users in Europe will soon be able to send messages to people using other messaging platforms, following Meta's efforts to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The new feature, called third-party chats, enables direct communication between WhatsApp and select external apps.
After months of testing, Meta announced that users can now chat with individuals on BirdyChat and Haiket through third-party chats. This development is part of Meta’s ongoing compliance with the DMA's requirements for interoperability among digital platforms within the EU.
According to Meta, "The DMA requires Meta to give people using WhatsApp in Europe the option to connect with people using third-party messaging services that have chosen to make their apps interoperable. We call this feature, third-party chats."
The company said that users across Android and iOS who opt into this experience will be able to exchange messages, images, voice notes, videos, and files. Group creation with third-party app users will be available once partner platforms are ready.
Meta emphasized its approach prioritizes privacy and security: "Meta’s partnerships with BirdyChat and Haiket is a result of more than three years of work with European messaging services and the European Commission to build a solution to third-party chats that meets the requirements of the DMA, while preserving privacy and security for users as much as possible."
The system was designed around three principles:
- Protecting user security and privacy by requiring third-party apps to use end-to-end encryption at the same level as WhatsApp.
- Providing a clear onboarding process so users understand differences between native WhatsApp chats and those involving other apps.
- Making these features available only in Europe per regulatory obligations.
Meta stated: "For WhatsApp users, connecting with people on other messaging apps is optional and third-party chats can be turned on or off at any time."
Users in Europe will begin receiving notifications in their WhatsApp settings over coming months explaining how they can enable connections with outside platforms. Additional features are expected as Meta continues expanding its interoperability options under EU law.
Further technical details about how interoperability works have been shared previously by Meta in an engineering blog post.