Mashable: This development is a response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations in Europe.

WhatsApp is currently working on a new chat interoperability feature that may enable users to send messages to third-party apps like Signal or Telegram.

This development is a response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations in Europe, which require major companies or 'gatekeepers' to ensure cross-platform communication within messaging apps within a six-month timeframe.

Based on a report by WABetainfo, WhatsApp is developing a new area for third-party conversations, now accessible in WhatsApp beta version 2.24.5.18. WhatsApp build version 2.24.5.18. The leaked screenshot from WABetainfo shows that the chat interoperability feature will be an opt-in feature, meaning that users will have to manually enable the feature to use it.

Nevertheless, prior to activating the feature, WhatsApp is said to implement three safety measures. The initial safety measure states: "You are communicating with an individual outside of WhatsApp. External applications might employ distinct end-to-end encryption."

The second safety measure states that third-party chats may have a higher occurrence of spam and scams. On the other hand, the third safety measure states that third-party apps have their own policies and may handle your data in a different manner than WhatsApp does.

The latest addition of chat interoperability will enable users to send messages to individuals who are not using the personal messaging app but are instead utilizing alternative services like Telegram or Signal. Nevertheless, as per the WaBetaInfo report, these conversations will be categorized under the chats tab within a distinct inbox.

Dick Brouwer, an engineering director at WhatsApp, recently verified to Wired magazine that the chat interoperability feature will be introduced to WhatsApp in compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations.

Nevertheless, the report specified that the interoperable chats will initially prioritize text messages, pictures, voice messages, and videos, while features like calls and group chats may require several years to become available in interoperable chats.