The Digital Services Act passed by the EU is intended to make Messenger interoperable. What is behind it and what difficulties does it entail?
Astonished faces regularly follow the statement “I don’t have WhatsApp”. Almost as if there were no alternative, safer messenger services. This is not surprising, since the news service from the Facebook empire is the most used. But soon none of that will matter, at least when it comes to the EU. Because, as stipulated in a law passed on Tuesday, this wants to make messenger services interoperable. What is behind this awkward term?
In principle, it should not matter which service someone uses in the future. The Digital Services Act (DSA) allows WhatsApp users to send messages to any number in their phone book. Regardless of whether the recipients use WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or Threema. And you don’t even have to have these apps installed. Almost like back then with the SMS. No more thinking and searching. But unfortunately it’s not that simple. The law has weaknesses: Just because WhatsApp has to open up to other providers does not mean that the smaller providers have to follow suit. There are also criticisms of security.
“Securityaway”. According to a survey by the Austrian Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory GmbH (RTR), 78 percent of smartphone users in Austria use WhatsApp. It’s difficult for competitors to assert themselves. The “planned terms of use and the associated hassle were just a dent” in market share, said RTR boss Klaus Steinmaurer on the occasion of the survey. The fact that the vast majority use WhatsApp is a reason for many to stay, the survey shows.
Nevertheless, he is critical of interoperability: “If I make Messenger interoperable, then the security is gone.” “, adds the RTR boss.
Precisely the kind of security that guarantees that messages really remain private and that no one can just intervene and read them. This is made possible by the mentioned end-to-end encryption. Messages are encrypted directly by the sender and only decrypted by the recipient. Anyone who tries to snoop gets only illegible code salad, consisting of letters and numbers from which no information can be derived.
While MEP Patrick Breyer from the German Pirate Party celebrates the law as a big hit and explains to ZDF that smaller rivals are now getting the chance to compete with the top dogs for the first time, they don’t seem to be impressed at all.
Clear rejection. Nor can those who should benefit the most choose whether to join. Because: For the time being, the requirement only applies to WhatsApp and IT giants like Apple. The crypto messenger service Threema from Switzerland has a clear position on the new law, and it is similar to that of Steinmaurer. That’s why chats with WhatsApp will not be allowed. Apple was also concerned that the DSA would create unnecessary privacy and security gaps.
(“Die Presse”, print edition, July 10, 2022)
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