Whatsapp faces strictest EU platform rules, but not Telegram

Meta’s messaging app Whatsapp is the latest platform to face the strictest requirements under the EU’s platform rules.

The platform said in its transparency report that it has reached 46.8 million monthly average users in the EU, which is more than the threshold of 45 million active users to be considered a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

From the moment of designation, the platform has four months to comply with the rules. A formal date for when this will take place has not yet been communicated. 

Under the DSA, VLOPs are obliged to strengthen consumer protection and fundamental rights, prevent the spread of illegal content and ensure increased transparency on algorithms and content moderation.

Meta’s other services Facebook and Instagram are already part of the list of VLOPs, and are subject to ongoing Commission investigations regarding possible breaches of the DSA. 

Messaging app Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, does not yet exceed 45 million monthly users in the bloc, a spokesperson for the Belgian Digital Services Coordinator told Euronews.

The Belgian Institute of Post and Telecommunications (BIPT) is waiting for the Commission to publish a delegated act on the calculation of the average number of monthly users. This could “potentially have an impact on the way figures are counted and published,” the spokesperson said.

“BIPT considers it unlikely that Telegram will exceed the 45 million threshold at this time,” the regulator added. 

Telegram has established its EU headquarters in Belgium, meaning that until it becomes a Very Large Online Platform, BIPT is in charge of its DSA compliance.

The platform’s founder previously said that he thinks the company will hit one billion users worldwide in 2024. The app – which is headquartered in Dubai – currently also claims to have passed 900 million active monthly users globally. 

Whatsapp designation brings the total number of Very Large Online Platforms under DSA to 26. It also includes Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Temu and Shein.