WhatsApp Expresses Difficulties In Developing Third Party Chat Features

WhatsApp supports third party chat (photo: dock. unsplash)

JAKARTA WhatsApp is developing a feature that will support interoperability or chat with third-party applications. This change will be felt by users in the European Union (EU).

If not imagined, this new feature can be used to communicate between applications. WhatsApp users can send messages to Messenger, iMessage, Signal, or other messaging applications, and vice versa.

This interoperability feature has continued to be developed over the past few months to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Of course, the creation of the feature takes a long time because there are several challenges that must be faced.

The messaging service under Meta revealed to Wired that they must maintain encryption-to-end that has been implemented for years. They also have to maintain privacy and security when this feature operates.

"There is a real tension between offering an easy way to offer this interoperability to third parties while maintaining WhatsApp privacy, security and integrity," said WhatsApp Technical Director Dick Brouwer.

Interoperability support will come in the coming weeks, but WhatsApp has yet to reveal its launch date. Brouwer only revealed that this feature will focus on supporting text messages.

In addition to being able to be used to exchange messages, WhatsApp users can also send images, voice messages, videos, or files to other application users. Phone calls and group chats will be presented, but in the coming years.

Despite the various interoperability supports that WhatsApp presents, users have the right to choose to use the feature or not. The reason is, this feature is made for the benefit of users, in accordance with DMA rules.

I can choose whether I want to be open to exchanging messages with third parties or not. This is important because (messages that come from outside the application) can be a big source of spam and fraud," explained Brouwer.