WhatsApp opens to third-party messaging in the EU
In a milestone move for EU digital policy and everyday messaging, WhatsApp has announced interoperability with two third-party services, BirdyChat and Haiket. These are the first non-Meta messenger platforms to gain approved interoperability access under the European Union’s push to create a more open, competitive messaging landscape.
The EU’s regulatory framework, shaped by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), is designed to prevent gatekeeping by large tech platforms and to give users more choice and control. WhatsApp’s participation marks a practical step in translating those rules into real-world capabilities, letting users send messages to and from contacts who are on BirdyChat or Haiket without switching apps.
What does interoperability mean for users?
Interoperability lets people on WhatsApp communicate with users on BirdyChat and Haiket and vice versa, subject to security and privacy protections. For the average user, this could mean fewer app-switching moments: a friend on BirdyChat could join a WhatsApp conversation, while WhatsApp users can be reachable from Haiket conversations without asking others to move platforms.
Crucially, the feature is designed to preserve core messaging protections, including end-to-end encryption where applicable. While the specifics can vary by service, the goal is to maintain message privacy and data security as conversations cross platform boundaries.
Why BirdyChat and Haiket?
BirdyChat and Haiket were selected as first-movers in this EU interoperability experiment due to their established user bases and technical readiness to integrate with WhatsApp’s messaging framework. Meta has indicated that these partnerships are a testbed for broader interoperability in the future, potentially paving the way for additional services to join the program as European regulators monitor safety, consent, and data handling.
Regulatory context and expected impact
The DMA requires large messaging platforms to provide interoperable access to smaller services under fair terms, ensuring that users aren’t locked into a single ecosystem. WhatsApp’s EU rollout with BirdyChat and Haiket demonstrates a concrete implementation of DMA requirements and signals how other major platforms might respond.
Experts say the move could spur more innovation and competition in the EU messaging market. Small and mid-sized messaging companies gain a clearer path to reach wider audiences, while consumers benefit from more choice and potentially better interoperability across their social and professional networks.
Security, privacy, and control
With cross-platform messaging, privacy protections must be robust. WhatsApp has emphasized ongoing commitments to security, including options for users to control who can message them and how their data is processed across services. Regulators will be watching closely to ensure that cross-service communications don’t create unintended data leakage or consent gaps.
For users, this means a continued emphasis on transparency: clear consent mechanisms, straightforward privacy settings, and visible options to opt out of cross-platform messaging where desired.
What happens next?
As the EU monitors the rollout, additional third-party services may be invited to participate. The success of BirdyChat and Haiket could influence how quickly the rest of the market opens up, with potential implications for app developers, marketers, and everyday users who want more flexible messaging options without sacrificing safety or privacy.
Overall, the EU’s interoperability push is turning regulatory intention into practical enhancements for digital communication. For now, WhatsApp users in the bloc can look forward to more connected conversations—across platforms—while regulators and tech companies assess real-world performance and safeguards.
