https://www.techradar.com/news/germany-wants-ott-service-providers-should-be-regulated-like-telcos

German authorities want mobile instant messaging and email service providers to be regulated to the same degree as telecommunications companies.

The Bundesnetzagentur, or Federal Network Agency, argues that the lines between over the top (OTT) services like Gmail and WhatsApp and traditional call and text applications have become blurred to the point that many consumers might not notice the difference.