The European Union (EU) recently agreed on a new Digital Markets Act that could affect the entire world. The new act requires messaging app developers to make their apps work together if it ends up being passed. In a press release, it says that lawmakers agreed that the companies behind WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or iMessage would have to make their apps “interoperable” with smaller messaging platforms at the developers’ request.
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Here’s the relevant part of the EU’s statement:
During a close to 8-hour long trilogue (three-way talks between Parliament, Council, and Commission), EU lawmakers agreed that the largest messaging services (such as Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, or iMessage) will have to open up and interoperate with smaller messaging platforms if they so request. Users of small or big platforms would then be able to exchange messages, send files or make video calls across messaging apps, thus giving them more choice. As regards interoperability obligation for social networks, co-legislators agreed that such interoperability provisions will be assessed in the future.
Messaging apps being siloed is a choice, not a technical limitation. The above statement means that the new law could compel companies like Apple and Meta to open up systems that they formerly controlled completely. For example, you can only send iMessages using Apple’s iMessage app, which only runs on its devices. It sounds like the EU wants to force Apple into letting other messaging apps interface with iMessage — meaning you could have a conversation between an iMessage user on an iPhone, and a Telegram user on a Windows PC. The language in the press release is unclear on whether the big apps would have to work together (eg. WhatsApp users being able to send to iMessage, or iMessage vs. Android green bubble disputes), but the EU says it is trying to knock down the walls around gardens, without overregulating small businesses out of existence.
While creating this kind of interoperability might seem complex from a technological standpoint (even if the companies were wholeheartedly into the idea, which seems unlikely), the EU hasn’t given companies much time to do it. The rules will take effect just over six months after the Digital Markets Act is approved by the EU Parliament and Council.
