Meta starts the first phase of testing to make WhatsApp messages available on other platforms to comply with the new European DMA.

In the latest beta version of WhatsApp (version 2.23.19.8) there is a window with the message for the first time Third Party Chats. According to WABetaInfo, this menu area is not yet functional. Users don’t have access to it yet either. The title is an important first clue to making encrypted messages available on other chat platforms.

The European Commission has appointed six gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These are companies that, according to the EU, are responsible for so-called core platform services. Within the messaging platforms, only WhatsApp and Messenger are the gatekeepers for the time being. Apple’s iMessage will be analyzed over the next six months to see whether it belongs on the list or not.

To ensure fair competition, a gatekeeper must make its platform available to third parties. Otherwise, the Commission can impose fines of up to ten percent of global turnover. In the case of repeated violations, this can even rise to twenty percent. The list of gatekeepers is not exhaustive. There is a possibility that Europe will see even more companies acting as gatekeepers in the coming months or years.

Earlier this month, WhatsApp improved the quality of its photos and videos and you can now use multiple accounts on one smartphone. You can find all other current WhatsApp updates here.