EU takes aim at Meta over WhatsApp rules that sideline other AI chatbots

Meta

• EU warns Meta may face emergency restrictions over blocking rival AI on WhatsApp
• Regulators claim Meta's policy favors its AI, limiting competition and choice.
• Meta can respond; interim measures possible before final ruling.

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The European Union has warned that it could impose emergency restrictions on Meta as it investigates whether the company illegally blocked rival AI assistants from operating on WhatsApp.

On Monday, the European Commission published its preliminary view that Meta, which owns WhatsApp, breached EU antitrust rules by preventing third-party AI assistants from accessing the messaging platform. Regulators argue that the move risks shutting competitors out of a rapidly expanding market at a critical stage.

The Commission said it is particularly concerned that Meta may be using WhatsApp’s scale and dominance to favour its own AI products, limiting choice for users and developers alike.

“We must protect effective competition in this vibrant field,” said Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice-president for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. “We cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance to give themselves an unfair advantage.”

Ribera added that the pace of AI development leaves regulators little room to delay action. As a result, the Commission is considering interim measures that would force Meta to maintain access for rival AI assistants while the investigation continues.

“AI markets are developing at a rapid pace, so we also need to be swift in our action,” she said. “That is why we are considering quickly imposing interim measures on Meta, to preserve access for competitors to WhatsApp while the investigation is ongoing, and avoid Meta’s new policy irreparably harming competition in Europe.”

The dispute centres on changes Meta announced in October to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms. According to the Commission, an update that took effect on January 15 would effectively make Meta AI the only AI assistant available within WhatsApp, particularly for business users.

The Commission opened a formal investigation on December 4, citing concerns that the policy change could foreclose the market before rivals have a chance to scale.

Monday’s announcement does not represent a final ruling, but it signals that regulators currently believe Meta may have violated EU competition law. Meta has now been given the opportunity to formally respond to the allegations.

In a statement to Reuters, a Meta spokesperson pushed back against the Commission’s assessment, arguing that regulatory intervention is unnecessary. “The facts are that there is no reason for the EU to intervene in the WhatsApp Business API,” the spokesperson said. “There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and industry partnerships.”

The case adds to mounting regulatory pressure on Meta in Europe, particularly as authorities sharpen their focus on how large platforms integrate AI services. A final decision from the Commission is expected later this year, though interim measures could arrive much sooner if regulators decide competition is at immediate risk.