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WhatsApp: Threatens the messenger for new digital

A new EU law could be devastating for WhatsApp. Will the messenger be banned soon?

Dortmund - especially on the Internet, the big companies are getting bigger, while smaller corporations are often forgotten. So there is a Messenger WhatsApp actually many alternatives, such as Telegram or Threema, the app of Meta (Facebook) seems to have a monopoly. New digital laws for the EU should change soon.

WhatsApp soon banned in Germany? New law applies

The laws and rules in the EU are partly no longer grown in the digital world, ie the Internet, so at least the impression when the EU Commission has already proposed a large digital law packet in December 2020. At the end of March, such a law on digital markets was finally determined by EU institutions.

In the future, a law on digital markets (DMA) and one via digital services (DSA) should provide more security in the network. While DMA is to limit the market power of Digital Giants like Google, Facebook (Meta) and Amazon, the DSA is more important to social issues such as the handling of illegal content on the Internet. The latter is currently being negotiated more closely between the EU institutions, as reported among others T3N.

Facebook Messenger & Whatsapp to Monday

New EU law for Facebook, WhatsApp and Co.: For users it becomes easier

In principle, Tech Giants such as Meta or Google must keep themselves on certain prohibitions and specifications in the future. The companies should not be allowed to expand their power position too much. For users, this means that in the future pre-installed apps on end devices can be easily deleted and default settings can be changed faster.

In addition, a unique user consent should be introduced in several places. If a user does not agree, certain services should still remain usable. "This creates real alternatives between to pay with all the data 'or can not use any services," said the CDU-MEP Andreas Schwab (CDU). He has negotiated the DMA for Parliament.

However, child and youth protection is not yet tightened in DMA. There is currently no lump-sum ban on personalized advertising for this target group. The DSA is exactly the loud T3N but planned (read more news about digital at law).

More competition for WhatsApp? EU law urges Messenger into the corner

Particularly interesting to the new digital laws: As the market leader, the Messenger WhatsApp is treated strictly. This could have many advantages for users. Because the app must also open for other, smaller services in the future. Theoretically, users of messengers such as signal or threema could then send their friends who use only WhatsApp, including news and photos.

However, the smaller companies themselves decide whether they want this link at all. Basically, however, it would not be necessary that users also install WhatsApp to communicate with all friends.

A big drawback: For group chattens this function should not be available for the time being. In order to ensure adequate security standards, this is very well planned in the future, so Schwab. In group chats from WhatsApp there is other new features for this. Currently, but also before a Milka fraud mesh on WhatsApp is warned how heidelberg24.de * reports.

More WhatsApp functions for users: New EU law probably only 2024

But when exactly the DMA comes into force? The agreement must only be confirmed by the Council of the EU States and the European Parliament - this step is considered a pure formal. Subsequently, the new digital laws must be published in the Official Journal of the EU and then enter into force 20 days later. That could happen at the beginning of 2023. After that, there is still a transitional period of six months.

Then the Tech giants have six months time, the DMA specifications also implement - then it could be 2024. However, the corporations also have reservations. For example, Apple expressed the concern that some DMA regulations could create unnecessary privacy and security gaps for users. All in dry towels, the new regulations do not seem yet. _ * law is like heidelberg24.de is part of the editorial network fromip.media._

Category list picture: © Nursphoto / Bihlmayer Photography / Imago

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