With 46.8 million monthly active users in the European Union, WhatsApp has just reached a strategic milestone. This figure propels it into the category of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP), a key classification of the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European law that regulates large digital platforms.
This status is not insignificant. It involves increased requirements for transparency, content moderation, and algorithmic accountability. In short, Brussels is demanding that WhatsApp strengthen its control over disinformation, better monitor exchanges, and provide greater visibility into the mechanisms that govern the platform.
Growing Regulatory Pressure
This legislative framework places Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, under increased scrutiny. Already forced to apply these rules to Facebook and Instagram, the group must now adapt its messaging to a stricter level of compliance.
One of the most sensitive points concerns content moderation. Although WhatsApp stands out for its end-to-end encryption – making direct monitoring of messages technically impossible – the EU requires the platform a regular assessment of risks linked to abuse and the dissemination of illegal content. The company will have to demonstrate that it is taking proactive measures against abuses, under penalty of fines of up to 6% of its global turnover.
Algorithms under surveillance and the fight against disinformation
The other major focus of regulation concerns the transparency of algorithms. Even though WhatsApp doesn't integrate a news feed like Facebook or Instagram, the EU wants more clarity on how information is highlighted, particularly via discussion groups and broadcast channels.
This increased control comes at a time when disinformation is exploding, particularly in the run-up to the European elections. The authorities want to limit the impact of online manipulation, a major challenge when you consider that WhatsApp is a favorite channel for the virality of fake news.
A behind-the-scenes standoff
Officially, Meta is playing the cooperation card. Mark Zuckerberg's firm assures that it complies with European rules and will continue to work with regulators. Internally, however, the tension is palpable. The company regularly criticizes what it perceives as excessive intrusion into its operations.
In the United States, some politicians take a dim view of these regulations. Senator JD Vance recently denounced "authoritarian censorship" that, according to him, threatens freedom of expression. A rhetoric that reflects Washington's opposition to certain European regulations, deemed too restrictive for American companies.
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