WhatsApp might soon be subject to stricter scrutiny under the EU's Digital Services Act

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EU Steps Up Scrutiny of WhatsApp Amid Growing Popularity of Channels Feature

The European Commission is set to take a closer look at Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp, potentially subjecting it to stricter regulations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), following its Channels feature's rapid growth in popularity within the EU. The DSA, aimed at curbing illegal and harmful content online, would require WhatsApp to adhere to specific guidelines for user reporting, data protection, and removal of illicit material.

As per the DSA, any platform with over 45 million monthly active users is classified as a "very large online platform" (VLOP), triggering increased scrutiny and regulatory obligations. Having crossed this threshold, WhatsApp's Channels feature has garnered approximately 51.7 million average monthly active users in the EU during its first six months of operation in 2025.

Companies that fail to comply with the DSA can face substantial fines, up to six percent of their global annual revenue. The Commission has already taken Meta to task over other aspects of its platforms, such as user reporting mechanisms on Facebook and Instagram, with a Dutch court ordering changes to its presentation of timelines in 2025.

The European Commission is actively exploring the possibility of designating WhatsApp for Channels, citing concerns that the feature's one-sided posting capabilities bear resemblance to Meta's social media platforms. A spokesperson has confirmed that the Commission is investigating this matter, and it would not be ruled out as a potential designation in the future.
 
idk why they need to regulate whatsapp so much 🤔. i mean i get it, channels feature is getting super popular but can't they just chill for now? 😅 its like they're trying to control every aspect of our online lives 💻. i'm not a fan of the DSA and how it's affecting other platforms too 🤯. whats next? regulating all social media apps to death 🚫? no thanks! 🙅‍♂️
 
OMG u guyz ! 😱 so like I was reading this news about WhatsApp and Channels feature & I'm totally convinced its all part of some bigger plan 🤔 Meta's trying to control EVERYTHING! 📈 they can't just let WhatsApp operate freely, gotta keep an eye on it 👀 and now the EU is stepping up scrutiny & regulations 🚫 what's next? 💸 are we gonna see them regulating Instagram too?! 🤯
 
omg I think its about time the EU steps up their game when it comes to regulating these big tech companies they've got to protect their users from all the harm thats being done online 🤯 WhatsApp's Channels feature might seem like just another way for people to connect, but its also a huge power imbalance - someones post gets shared 51 mil times and thats like totally unfair 😒 I'm not saying Meta's bad or anything, but they've got a lot of influence and they need to be held accountable 💯
 
OMG, can you believe WhatsApp is getting all scrutinized now? 🤯 I mean, I know they have Channels and it's super popular but... isn't that like, what everyone wants from their messaging app?! 😂👀 But for real though, the DSA rules are kinda strict. I heard if they don't comply with the guidelines, they could get fined up to 6% of their global revenue! 💸 That's like, a lot of money... 💳

I'm kinda worried about what this means for users too 🤔. Like, how will we be able to report all that bad stuff on Channels? 🤷‍♀️ It's already super easy to post something mean and have it spread fast 🌪️. If the EU steps up their game, maybe that'll change 💪. Fingers crossed! 👍
 
omg i feel like im late to the party lol 🙈 the EU is finally taking whatsapp seriously? about time tbh, all these new features like channels are kinda sketchy...like what's next? they're already making moves on facebook and instagram so yeah lets just say id rather see more transparency from whatspp 👀
 
awww man whats going on with watsapp?? its like they're getting all the extra scrutiny lol i get why tho its channels feature is kinda sketchy if u ask me 🤔 especially when ur just trying to connect with ppl and its all about posting now and not so much about actual conversation 👥 what if they dont listen to those regulations tho? it would be really bad for users like us who use the app 😕
 
🤔 I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here 🐟. They're just trying to stifle free speech, like they always do 🔒. WhatsApp's Channels feature is basically Facebook's Instagram Stories, and now they're saying it's "unhealthy" for the EU 👀? Give me a break! 😂 It's all about control, folks 🤝. They want to dictate what we can say and share online, and if you don't comply, they'll take you down 💸. I mean, who needs more regulations, right? 🙄 The European Commission just wants an excuse to fine Meta into oblivion 💸💸. Wake up, people! 🔍
 
I'm not sure about this new development 🤔... I mean, on one hand, I think it's awesome that the EU is stepping up its game to tackle online harm and protect users 👍. The Channels feature does seem pretty sketchy, though - I've seen some wild stuff getting posted on there 📦. It'd be sick if WhatsApp got held accountable for what's going down on their platform 💪.

But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about overregulation 🔒... I get that we need to keep our online spaces safe and all, but do we really need to stifle free speech in the process? 🤷‍♀️ Meta's already got its fair share of issues on other platforms; let's not forget Facebook and Instagram's own problems with user reporting 📊.

Still, I think it's about time someone took a closer look at WhatsApp's Channels feature 👀. Maybe this will be a good thing for the EU's online safety efforts... we'll see how it plays out 💭
 
🤯 just thinkin' about all the channels on whatsapp, i mean its super convenient for businesses & creators but also got me wonderin if its gettin too big 4 itself lol, dont wanna be one of those platforms that gets slayed by EU's DSA 🤑👀 what i know is gotta keep my personal info safe so i'm stickin to end-to-end encryption on whatsapp 💻💯
 
omg I'm so done with WhatsApp thinkin they can just slide into the EU without gettin their act together channels feature is just a fancy way of sayin Instagram Stories but for messages like what's the diff if you can post 3 pics and some text at once gotta make sure that ain't facin any fines from the EU all them channels bein filled with spam or hate speech is straight up unacceptable
 
😒 I'm getting so sick of all these new features popping up on WhatsApp! First, it was the Channels feature and now they're considering taking away some of our messaging freedom? Like, what's next? 😅 It's just too much to keep track of what's allowed and what's not. And don't even get me started on those fines - six percent of their revenue? That's like, a huge amount for Meta! 🤑 But honestly, I think the EU is on the right side here... it's about time someone took a closer look at how these big platforms are handling user data and content moderation. Maybe this will lead to some real change and we'll get a more transparent and safe online experience? 💻
 
I think it's cool how the EU is taking steps to make sure big messaging apps like WhatsApp are being more responsible with their Channels feature 🤝. I mean, 51 million monthly active users is crazy! It's good that they're setting guidelines for data protection and user reporting because that stuff matters to people who use these platforms daily 💻. Companies have to be careful not to get fined six percent of their revenue or worse - it's a big deal 🤑. I'm curious to see how this plays out with WhatsApp and Meta 👀
 
I'm kinda surprised they're cracking down on WhatsApp now 🤔. Like, I get why they wanna keep users safe online, but Channels seems like a legit way for smaller businesses to connect with their followers without all that drama from ads and whatnot 📈. Can't help but wonder if it's just another example of EU's new regulations getting in the way of innovation 💻. Meta's already got so many platforms under its belt, do they really need more red tape? 🤷‍♂️
 
omg u guys can u even imagine watsapp getting all scrutinized like this? 🤯 they're basically saying their channels feature is too powerful and might be doing some shady stuff 😏 anyway i'm kinda down for stricter regulations tho think about it we need to make sure our online platforms are doing the right thing by users and all that jazz 💖 so fingers crossed they do come up with some solid guidelines and dont just leave it at "oh watsapp does its own thing" 🤷‍♀️ btw 51.7 million monthly active users is a big number lol what's next? 🤑
 
😊 you know what this says to me? its like a reminder that when we're growing and expanding fast, we gotta slow down and make sure our foundations are solid 💪. think about it, whatsapp is so popular now but whats the catch? is it really free to use or is there something underneath the surface 🤔? this is what happens when we dont take care of whats beneath our feet 👣. companies like whatsapp should be more careful with how they handle user reporting and data protection 🚫. otherwise, regulatory bodies will step in and make them conform 💼. its a lesson for all us, whether youre a small startup or a big corporation - gotta put users first and follow the rules 🙏.
 
🤔 so like whats the point of having channels on whatsapp if its just gonna get slapped with all these regulations 🙄 anyway i think watsapp needs to step up their game on reporting suspicious content... its getting annoying how often i see weird stuff pop up in my news feed 📊 its like, come on whatsapp, you got this 💻 and btw 51.7 million users in eu is straight fire 👀
 
whats going on with whatsapp?? 🤔 they cant just let meta get away with whatever they want... i mean ive been using channels and its super convenient but idk if thats a good thing for us EU users lol 😂 its like whatsapp is all "oh im just a messaging app, i dont have to follow the rules" but nope the eu says otherwise 🤷‍♂️
 
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