The European Commission is preparing to recognize the "WhatsApp" messenger as a "Very Large Online Platform" (VLOP) within the framework of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
BAKU.WS reports that, according to Bloomberg, although the decision has not yet been officially announced, the Commission has informed "Meta" about it. The new status will grant the EU broader oversight powers over WhatsApp. The platform will be subject to additional requirements such as content moderation, data sharing, advertising transparency, and independent annual audits.
The decision is not surprising - "WhatsApp" had announced that it reached 46.8 million monthly active users in the European Union territory in the second half of 2024. According to the DSA law, if this figure exceeds 45 million, the platform acquires VLOP status.
This status will only apply to the "open channels" function and will not affect the privacy of private messaging between users.
Thus, "WhatsApp", along with "Facebook" and "Instagram" owned by "Meta", will be included in the EU's VLOP list, which also features giant platforms like "Amazon", "Google", and "TikTok". This means that all of "Meta"'s main services will now operate under the strict oversight of the European Union.