this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2025
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WhatsApp interoperability with Signal (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 day ago by Clanket@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
91 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Does anyone know where this is at? I thought WhatsApp were being forced by the EU in 2024 to introduce this under the Digital Markets App? I'm googling, but am finding very little info.

It would be great if we could use Signal to communicate with WhatsApp groups. The sooner I can delete WhatsApp the better.

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[–] dnzm@feddit.nl 18 points 1 day ago (2 children)

If I understand this document correctly, it would mean that the entire connection somehow gets routed through Meta's servers. I can fully understand the reluctance of other parties, including Signal, to do that, and I wonder how this is actually compliant with the DMA.

[–] fushuan@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You don't understand. This is not for you, the signal user, to speak with WhatsApp users. This is for you to convince them to swap to signal and keep talking to other WhatsApp users. The more people change, the less information will go through meta. Lowering the barrier to swap apps is great.

To send messages, the third-party providers have to construct message protobuf structures which are then encrypted using the Signal Protocol and then packaged into message stanzas in eXtensible Markup Language (XML). 

Meta servers push messages to connected clients over a persistent connection. Third-party servers are responsible for hosting any media files their client applications send to Meta clients (such as image or video files). After receiving a media message, Meta clients will subsequently download the encrypted media from the third-party messaging servers using a Meta proxy service.

This is only for messages sent to WhatsApp, right now you are force to use their app to chat with WhatsApp users, which is worse than the proposal.

[–] muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

I think that's only the case for people on a meta client. I would assume for people on a signal client get their requests proxied to meta via a signal server.