The European Commission has stepped up its antitrust action against Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, over new rules that limit access for rival artificial intelligence tools on the messaging platform. The move follows an investigation into changes to the WhatsApp Business API that appear to shut out competing AI services.
Brussels has issued a formal Statement of Objections, warning that Meta’s policy may breach Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which bans the abuse of a dominant market position. The Commission argues that the new terms could unfairly restrict competition in the fast‑growing market for AI assistants.
The dispute centres on changes introduced for WhatsApp business users. Since 15 January 2026, the updated conditions have, in practice, made it impossible for external AI tools, such as ChatGPT or Copilot, to interact directly with users through WhatsApp. Meta’s own services remain available on the platform, raising concerns that the company is favouring its own AI solutions.
European Commissioner for Competition Teresa Ribera said the EU is now prepared to consider rare interim measures against Meta. Such measures would constitute a legal injunction and could compel Meta to restore access to rival AI tools while the investigation continues. Ribera stressed that the EU must act quickly to prevent lasting harm to competition in a rapidly evolving market.
Meta has rejected the Commission’s findings. The company has told news outlets, including Reuters, that there is no basis for EU intervention. It argues that consumers can still access AI services through other channels, such as standalone apps, websites, or integrations on other platforms, and that WhatsApp is only one channel.
The investigation covers the European Economic Area, but Italy is not included. Italian authorities had already acted in late 2025, imposing national measures against Meta over the same WhatsApp policy. Their decision ordered Meta to suspend the clauses that blocked rival AI chatbots in the Italian market.
If the Commission eventually concludes that Meta has violated EU competition rules, the company could face a fine of up to 10 per cent of its total global turnover. Any final decision would also likely require Meta to change its conduct to restore fair access for competing AI services on WhatsApp.
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