Meta Unveils Plan for WhatsApp’s Encrypted Chats to Integrate with Third-Party Services
End-to-End Encryption Remains Intact, Regardless of Recipient’s Messaging Platform
Meta has announced its readiness to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements for third-party chat interoperability. The company’s blog post outlines the steps it will take to enable secure communication between WhatsApp and Messenger users and those on other platforms.
DMA Requirements and Meta’s Implementation Timeline
Under the DMA, Meta must be prepared to facilitate interoperability with other services within three months of receiving a request. However, the company clarifies that the actual public rollout may take longer. Initially, the requirements only mandate support for one-on-one chats and file sharing, such as images, videos, or voice messages, within the first year of the new regulation. Over time, these requirements will expand to include group chats and calls.
Third-Party Provider Agreements and Encryption Standards
Before Meta collaborates with third-party providers to implement interoperability, they must sign an agreement. While Meta encourages other providers to adopt WhatsApp’s Signal protocol for encryption, it is open to accepting alternative protocols that meet equivalent security standards.
Ensuring Secure Communication in Transit
Meta guarantees that end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats will remain secure during transmission, regardless of the encryption protocol used by the receiving provider. However, the company cannot vouch for the actions of the apps on the receiving end of WhatsApp and Messenger users’ chats.
End-to-end encryption will remain in place, even if you’re talking to someone who doesn’t use Messenger or WhatsApp.
As Meta works to comply with the DMA’s third-party chat requirements, users can expect a gradual expansion of interoperability between WhatsApp, Messenger, and other messaging platforms while maintaining the security of their private conversations.
3 Comments
Meta peeling back the curtain on WhatsApp’s encryption? Color me intrigued!
Meta finally shedding some light on WhatsApp’s encrypted magic, huh? Let’s dive deep and see what’s behind that curtain.
WhatsApp encryption and third-parties getting a backstage pass? Naomi, this sounds like a plot twist!