If it hasn’t already appeared, it’s likely that it will appear in the next few days. a WhatsApp notice informing of changes to its terms. This is something that they detail on their website and which a priori there is nothing to worry about, since these are changes to adapt to the new DMA, the acronym in English for the law on digital markets already in force in the European Union.
In general, these are minor changes for the user, although there are other interesting changes worth knowing about. Even if, yes, it’s them prelude to the big change in WhatsApp in 2024which implies the interoperability of its service in the EU.
Important changes to WhatsApp starting in April
It will be from Thursday April 11 when WhatsApp will start applying its new conditions. De facto, this is a new agreement with the user that requires their approval. It means that If we do not accept these conditions, we will not be able to continue using WhatsApp. There is no going back and those who do not accept will lose access (although they may be accepted at any time, even if initially refused).
One of these changes is that The minimum age becomes 13 years old, thus leaving the still valid condition of being at least 16 years old to be able to formalize an entry in the application. It must be said that the DNI, or something similar, will not be requested, so unfortunately it is still an insufficient filter to prevent minors of these ages from accessing it.
Another relevant element that changes is the processing of data of users from the European Union, now having to adapt to the framework of the new DMA when transferring this information to the United States. Privacy and end-to-end encryption are still present.
Other legal changes are also added in relation to the channel regulation and the revision of these so that they do not go beyond what is established with unauthorized content (incitement to hatred, drugs, pornography, etc.). Of course, as we see on the WhatsApp site, these changes are dated February 16, so users who register since then already have these conditions (the others are those who must accept them before April 11).
WhatsApp interoperability, still on the waiting list
If there is one relevant change expected with some interest, it is for WhatsApp to become interoperable. It means that you can send a WhatsApp via Telegram and vice versa
Initially, Apple’s system was also required for this opening, as they considered that iMessage could also exercise a monopoly, although they ultimately determined that this was not the case and that it was exempt.
The fact is that WhatsApp must be interoperable, but applying this requirement is not something simple at a technical level and, despite progress already made, it is not yet available and there is no specific date for which we know will happen. So all that remains is to wait and as for the changes that will arrive in April, you will have already seen that there is nothing to worry about.
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