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 the company "Meta" about it. The new status will grant the EU broader supervisory powers over WhatsApp. The platform will be subject to additional requirements such as content monitoring, data sharing, advertising transparency, and independent annual audits.
The decision is not surprising - "WhatsApp" announced that it reached 46.8 million active users per month in the territory of the European Union in the second half of 2024. According to the DSA law, if this number exceeds 45 million, the platform receives VLOP status.
This status will apply only to the "public channels" function and will not affect the privacy of private messaging between users.
Thus, "WhatsApp" will join the EU's VLOP list alongside "Facebook" and "Instagram," owned by the "Meta" company, as well as giant platforms like "Amazon," "Google," and "TikTok." This means that all of Meta's main services will now operate under the strict supervision of the European Union.
