WhatsApp, According to reports, the company, which has 2 billion users, plans to allow users to send and receive messages to and from users of other messaging apps while maintaining end-to-end encryption. It is said that there is. This is a first for this platform.
This surprising move was reported by wiredwhich is significant and is in response to EU legislation mandating openness for big tech companies.
Wired reports that interoperability will initially focus on text messaging and media sharing between two people, with group chats and calls planned for later.
For added privacy and security, users must opt in to receive messages from other apps. The purpose of interoperability is to eliminate the need for users to know which apps their contacts are using, making it easier to communicate across platforms.
WhatsApp's parent company Meta wants other apps to adopt the Signal encryption protocol. However, you can use alternative encryption protocols if the third-party app meets WhatsApp's security standards.
Companies interested in interoperability must sign an agreement and abide by WhatsApp's terms. This includes encrypting your content using the Signal tool and connecting to WhatsApp's servers.
According to a Wired interview with Dick Brower, WhatsApp's director of engineering, details of the plan will be made public in March, and implementation is expected to take several months.
power dynamics
While Meta is committed to interoperability, many messaging companies have remained silent about their intentions given the potential complexity and security risks, not to mention potential business risks.
Interoperability could reshape the dynamics between technology companies in favor of larger companies.
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Challenges include spam prevention and identifying users across platforms using different methods (for example, phone numbers and randomly generated IDs). Despite these challenges, Meta believes WhatsApp's existing architecture can be leveraged as a scalable solution. However, the evolution of functionality is slower than in a closed network. — (c)2024 NewsCentral Media
