WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.5.18: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.5.18.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a chat interoperability feature to comply with new EU regulations, and it will be available in a future update!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Third-party chats |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is working on bringing third-party chat support to a future update of the app. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature is under development so it's not ready for beta testers, but it is possible to discover a preview in this article. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.5.17: what’s new? WhatsApp is working on a feature to share the QR code from the chats tab! |
THIRD-PARTY CHATS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on complying with EU regulations by developing third-party chat support. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) targets large tech companies who heavily influence the digital market, requiring them to facilitate user communication across multiple apps. Since it is required by law, WhatsApp must offer support for third-party chats to their European Region users. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.5.18 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on the chat interoperability feature!
As you can see in the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring a new section where users can decide whether to enable third-party support for their account in a future update. Thanks to this feature, users will be able to messaging other people outside of WhatsApp. Although end-to-end encryption must be preserved in interoperable messaging systems, third-party apps may use different end-to-end encryption. As a result, these chats will be listed in a different inbox within the chats tab. WhatsApp also advises users to stay careful when engaging in conversations through third-party chats as spam and scams may be more common, where profile name and photo are not available. In addition, considering that third-party apps operate under their own policies, they may handle data in ways that differ from WhatsApp's practices.
This move towards interoperability is a significant step for WhatsApp in aligning with EU regulations and providing users with more versatile communication options. Users in the European Region will be able to chat with others on WhatsApp using various messaging apps, even if they don't have a WhatsApp account. It's very important to note that this feature is totally optional, and users will need to manually activate the interoperability service, with the ability to opt out if they choose, as highlighted in Article 7 of the regulations.
The chat interoperability feature to comply with new EU regulations is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app. We will share an additional article once we have further details about this feature.
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