WhatsApp's EU Classification: A New Era of Regulation

WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform owned by Meta, has reached a significant milestone in the European Union (EU) with its classification as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This new status, effective as of February 19, 2025, subjects WhatsApp to stricter regulations and increased oversight, aiming to enhance user safety, transparency, and control over their data. This article explores the implications of WhatsApp's classification as a VLOP and its potential impact on the broader messaging app market in the EU.

WhatsApp's classification as a VLOP comes after the platform surpassed the threshold of 45 million monthly active users in the EU, as reported by European Commissioner Thomas Regnier. This classification is part of the EU's efforts to rein in the power of predominantly American tech companies and ensure a safer digital environment for users. Other platforms already classified as VLOPs include Google, Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Microsoft's LinkedIn, and Amazon.

As a VLOP, WhatsApp is now required to comply with several specific regulatory obligations, which will affect its operations and user experience. These obligations include:

1. User Reporting and Content Moderation: WhatsApp must provide users with ways to report illegal goods, services, or content directly within the app and act promptly to remove or restrict access to such content upon receiving valid notifications.
2. Data Processing and User Control: WhatsApp must provide clear and comprehensible terms and conditions, ensuring users are well-informed about how their data is processed and used. The DSA mandates that platforms like WhatsApp offer users greater control over personalized advertising, including options to opt out of targeted ads based on personal data profiling.
3. Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategies: As a VLOP, WhatsApp is required to carry out risk assessments on the spread of illegal or harmful content and put in place a mitigation strategy.
4. Annual Independent Audit and Compliance Data Submission: WhatsApp will have to face an annual independent audit and regularly submit compliance data to the Commission and national authorities.
5. Interoperability with Other Messaging Services: WhatsApp is preparing to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires interoperability between messaging services. This means WhatsApp will need to enable communication with users on other messaging platforms, such as iMessage, Telegram, and Signal.

WhatsApp's classification as a VLOP may have several implications for its competitors, such as Telegram, and the broader messaging app market in the EU. These include increased scrutiny and regulation, influencing user expectations and preferences, impacting market dynamics and competition, and encouraging interoperability. As WhatsApp faces stricter regulations, it may need to allocate more resources to compliance, potentially leading to slower innovation or increased costs. This could create opportunities for competitors like Telegram to differentiate themselves by offering more innovative features or better user experiences. However, it could also lead to increased pressure on Telegram to comply with the same regulations, leveling the playing field.

In conclusion, WhatsApp's classification as a Very Large Online Platform under the EU's Digital Services Act will have significant implications for the platform's operations, user experience, and the broader messaging app market in the EU. As WhatsApp navigates these new regulatory requirements, it will be crucial for the company to adapt its policies and practices to ensure compliance with the DSA's rules and maintain user trust. The EU's efforts to regulate large online platforms aim to create a safer digital space, and WhatsApp's classification as a VLOP is a testament to the EU's commitment to holding significant online platforms accountable for the dissemination of illegal and harmful content.