WhatsApp Becomes a Major Platform in the EU and Will Face Stricter Regulations.
Facebook and Instagram now have the same rating.
Meta's messaging app, WhatsApp, has reached a sufficient number of users to be classified as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA). This means that the app will be subject to stricter regulations within the region. According to European Commissioner Thomas Regnier, WhatsApp exceeded the 45 million user threshold set by the DSA last year.
In a report presented on February 14, the company reported an average of "approximately 46.8 million" monthly active users on WhatsApp Channels, one of its broadcasting features, during the last six months of 2024. Additionally, on February 16, WhatsApp updated its privacy policy, incorporating new information on data processing to align with its regulatory obligations under the DSA.
Services classified as VLOP must provide users with mechanisms to report illegal goods, services, or content, as well as options to prevent or remove such messages. The regulations also include strict controls regarding the information companies can use for targeted advertising and impose tighter restrictions on ads targeted at minors. European users of VLOP have the right to greater control over the use of their data and must be able to opt out of recommendation and profiling systems.
It is worth noting that both Facebook and Instagram, also owned by Meta, are already considered VLOP in the European Union.