What the EU is doing with WhatsApp
The European Union has forced Meta to make WhatsApp interoperable with other messaging apps. In practice, this means a WhatsApp user can send and receive messages from people using other apps without anyone needing to switch platforms. The legal basis is the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into full force in 2023 and was designed to break digital monopolies.
WhatsApp has already begun testing a feature called “third-party chats.” Currently, the only compatible app is Birdychat, a relatively unknown service. But apps like Telegram and Apple Messages are expected to integrate over time. Third-party messages appear in a separate section within WhatsApp, and users can enable or disable the feature at any time.
How it works in practice
To enable interoperability, users go to Settings, Account, and Third-Party Chats. After activation, they can choose which apps to authorize. Conversations with other apps only show the phone number of the contact, without name or profile picture. This protects personal data but makes it harder to identify who is messaging.
The limitations are still significant. Third-party chats only work on smartphones, not on tablets, computers, or the web version of WhatsApp. With only one compatible app available, the practical impact remains small. But the legal precedent is enormous: for the first time, a government has forced a big tech company to open its messaging ecosystem.
Security implications
Interoperability raises important security questions. When messages travel between different apps, end-to-end encryption must be maintained across the entire chain. WhatsApp uses the Signal protocol, but other apps may use different protocols. Ensuring encryption works seamlessly between platforms is a real technical challenge.
The DMA requires that interoperability does not compromise security. Meta argued that opening WhatsApp could weaken user protection, but regulators rejected the argument. According to the European Commission, security can be maintained as long as companies follow adequate technical standards. Recent investigations in April 2026 show the EU is prepared to enforce compliance, including ordering Meta to restore third-party access that was restricted.
What it means globally
While the DMA only applies in Europe, its effects will be felt worldwide. If WhatsApp builds interoperability infrastructure for European users, expanding it to other markets becomes technically simpler. Countries like Brazil, where WhatsApp has 169 million users, could benefit enormously from similar regulations.
The network effect that keeps everyone locked into WhatsApp is the biggest barrier to competition in messaging. Interoperability directly addresses this by allowing users to switch apps without losing their contacts. This could open the door for more secure alternatives like PhizChat to gain traction without asking users to convince their entire contact list to switch.
The role of PhizChat
PhizChat was built with security as the top priority. End-to-end encryption on all conversations, identity verification, data stored under local privacy laws, and 100% sovereign infrastructure. In an interoperable world, PhizChat users could communicate with WhatsApp contacts while maintaining superior security protections.
Until interoperability reaches global markets, choosing a secure messaging app remains an individual decision. But the European example proves that regulatory pressure works and that the monopoly of a single messaging platform is not inevitable.
FAQ
What is messaging interoperability?
It is the ability to send and receive messages between different apps. For example, sending a message from WhatsApp to someone using Telegram without either person needing to switch apps.
Is WhatsApp interoperable outside Europe?
Not yet. Interoperability is being implemented only in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. No equivalent legislation exists in other major markets like the US or Brazil.
Does interoperability compromise security?
It depends on implementation. If encryption standards are maintained between platforms, security can be preserved. The EU requires that interoperability does not reduce user protection.
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