They require apps to share sensitive infos about user like IP adress.
This is why Element, which worked with Meta since the DMA start (March 2024) had to drop the plan because of privacy concerns.
So any privacy-respecting app is going to be a big NO. For other messengers I don’t think they are intersted. Apple already opened up with RCS, Telegram is already very popular, etc.
Also see this blog post from Element
ive never even brought up the issues…
I’m not sure if you meant to imply this but neither iMessage nor Telegram apply to the context of cross-platform end-to-end encryption. iMessage partly adopted RCS but is still lacking features including E2EE. Telegram isn’t cross-platform but more importantly it doesn’t really have E2EE.
(Well they technically do but it’s weak, unaudited, disabled by default, and can only be enabled in specific circumstances.)
My 70yo aunt will not see this notification or will ignore it. So even when this new feature is introduced to WA, I still won’t be able to contact her. I will keep sending here SMS for birthday, nothing changes there
thats a very specific thing and old people just stick to sms anyway. Not valid
Wait a second, are you sure?
This doesn’t to seem right for interoperability, it would be indeed useless if any recipient couldn’t be contacted without action from their part. Do you have a source?
As for the shared ip address it’s not ideal but a vpn will take care of that.
i mean it would actually be good, because we could recommend it as an easier, nicer client without the ad and AI crap that whatsapp puts in it’s app. A big reason for people not to switch is the platform effect that will be destroyed now.
Thanks for reminding the VPN part that’s important,
I will take 2 quotes from the article which hopefully should answer the question:
WhatsApp users in Europe, who have opted in to the experience across Android and iOS, will be able to share messages, images, voice messages, videos and files. The option to create groups with third-party users will become available once our partners are ready to support this.
What users will see
Over the coming months, WhatsApp users in the European Region will start to see a notification in the Settings tab on WhatsApp. This will explain how they can opt-in to connect with people on third-party apps. Click here to learn more.
We will continue to provide updates on our progress as we roll out further features and expand our interoperability offerings as required by the DMA.
More information about Messaging interoperability at Meta.
Another thing i wonder, will this support calls too?
I from time to time call people on WhatsApp given it is at least e2ee.
Yeah okay. I didn’t think of it from that angle. Point.
Also had a look at Haiket, just putting up a warning that if you sign up for their waiting list they store your email at Amazon…
Well, it seems my excitement was premature.
@crossroads and @Encounter5729 are right, nobody will activate the third party switch killing de facto a mass adoption. Unless the EU steps in for it forcing to be on by default I don’t see how it can be really useful 
hmm, Meta does clarify they will get notified (in the settings tab), meaning when they get notified of it, they are likely to feel like enabling it if necessary
The reason I say that is because this is how I got the extended security update rolled in ever since I told them only to then silence until windows told them. But maybe this isnt equal experience and that’s fine.
I just got the new feature in the settings and it is actually on by default.
You’ll receive a notification if someone try to contact you through a third party client.
So It’s not ideal like receiving a normal message from Whatsapp but it’s not so obscure and opt-in only.
I’ll take that as an improvement, now we have to wait to see if we’ll get some decent privacy oriented client pop out.
Now signal should genuinely come and opt out by default because of course people with high enough threat model don’t wanna connect with WhatsApp right away but those that aren’t in high threat model would have the option
I can actually see thiss like this with signal
Of course it would also be possible to opt out if you choose so after opting in
Maybe it’s a silly question, but I find it a bit difficult to follow the thread. If I communicate via Signal with someone who uses WhatsApp, will the messages still be encrypted even if that person uploads unencrypted chat backups to the cloud?
Yes WhatsApp interoperability mandates the other app to be E2EE.
As for chat backups, I hope I’m mistaken but yeah this should apply where if a user does unencrypted backups, those are as such
Well, then in principle we would still have that issue. At least now, people who don’t want to use the WhatsApp client (or those of us who get banned from their service) can still communicate via another client.
