What do you mean? They will cripple WhatsApp and Signal and then people will switch to open-source software that is not backdoored?
Discussion
If they care enough, sure.
Although the more likely scenario I imagine is that Meta and Signal will just officially pull out of the EU, and then the Eurocrats can embarrass themselves publicly if they want to actually enforce app and network bans for encrypted messaging apps. I have my popcorn ready for that.
The masses don't care, that's the point. Consequently, the masses will suffer the consequences of surveillance and control.
That's already the case, chat control laws or not.
So I don't see why it's a problem to have some prominent companies running centralized services battle this one out publicly with the Eurocrats.
Maybe at least it draws some attention to EU surveillance and control issues in general, and especially in regards to the Digital EUR and European E-ID wallet that they're planning to launch.