WhatsApp’s open channels feature faces EU regulation under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes strict oversight by the European Union. The company is following in the footsteps of Instagram and Facebook, which operate under Meta.

What obligations does the EU regulation impose on WhatsApp’s platform?

According to a Bloomberg report, the European Commission will grant WhatsApp’s open channels the Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) label. This label gives the EU greater regulatory authority in areas such as content moderation and data sharing.

Furthermore, WhatsApp will now be required to conduct an annual independent audit and ensure transparent advertising practices. Therefore, significant changes are expected in the platform’s operational processes.

This new regulatory label comes as no surprise. WhatsApp announced that it reached an average of 46.8 million EU users in the second half of 2024. The DSA requires platforms with over 45 million monthly EU users to be granted the VLOP label.

However, this label will strictly apply to WhatsApp’s open channels feature. Individual messaging will not be affected. All private messaging between the parties will remain confidential.

WhatsApp joins companies like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Google, and ByteDance that hold the VLOP label. This also strengthens the sway of major tech companies in the European market.

So, what are your thoughts on WhatsApp’s VLOP label? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!