WhatsApp announced the sending of legal notifications to third-party application developers using native Android APIs



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Long after blocking applications that used its name, WhatsApp reportedly began sending legal notices to third-party application developers who use Google's official Android APIs to modify user experiences on messaging platforms . The initial list of applications that have received threats from Facebook includes DirectChat, an application that has over 500,000 downloads and is used to offer Facebook-like Chat Heads for any purpose. instant messaging application. Interestingly, WhatsApp is among the applications for which the DirectChat application offers chat head notifications. This is not the first time that WhatsApp uses the legal way to restrict certain applications. In 2015, WhatsApp had sent a notice of termination and discontinuance to WhatsApp + and other third-party customers who were using the WhatsApp name and mimicking the experience. The company has even temporarily banned users using third-party customers from continuing to dominate.

Unlike WhatsApp + and other third-party mail clients that were aimed at attracting WhatsApp users, DirectChat does not offer an experience similar to WhatsApp in any case. The application basically uses Google's NotificationListenerService to listen to incoming notifications and display them in the form of chat heads, ones that debuted on the Facebook Home app in 2013 and are currently available via the Messenger application. However, since the application modifies WhatsApp user experiences by offering its notifications via Chat Heads, it is allegedly violating the terms of WhatsApp.

"I do not see anything wrong with the operation and operation of these apps since they use Google's own public notification API to retrieve and display texts, but WhatsApp's lawyers just came from me. send a letter Cease & Desist that I violate their terms and services and should immediately terminate its service.I can understand them turn off WhatsApp + and other modded applications that interfere directly with their service, but how a manager application Simple notification is against their T & S, "the developer behind the DirectChat application writes in a Reddit post.

In addition to the NotificationListernerService implementation, the DirectChat application uses the DirectReply service built into Android. enable responses directly from the newsgroup notifications. It's still tweaking the experience for WhatsApp users. However, it is not clear how the use of open service infringes the rights of instant messaging application which has more than 1.5 billion active users per month.

The alleged legal opinion, shared by a separate Reddit message, requires developers to stop the application "immediately and permanently" because it "violates" the provisions of the use of WhatsApp services. "WhatsApp requires that you immediately cease all development, distribution, promotion, operation, sale, and offer of your service at all distribution points – including Web sites and social media accounts – and confirm that you are not in charge." "Future you will not develop, distribute, sell, and / or offer your service or any code, products, services or resources," the WhatsApp is supposed to have said in the shared letter.

Aside from the developer of DirectChat, WhatsApp would have sent a letter identical to other developers, including those who built the Can not Talk app. As AndroidPolice notes, WhatsApp's threats could make things difficult for independent developers as they already have access to Facebook's vast resources.

We have contacted WhatsApp for clarity on the legal notice and we will update this space accordingly. We also sent a request by email to Google to see how it would guarantee the freedom for developers to create applications using the native APIs and services of Android.

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