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The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Meta’s new WhatsApp policy, scrutinising whether it unfairly favours Meta’s own AI services and potentially stifles competition in the EU’s growing AI and messaging market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust probe into Meta Platforms over a new WhatsApp policy that appears to bar third\u2011party artificial\u2011intelligence providers from using the app\u2019s business tools, while allowing Meta\u2019s own Meta AI to operate on the platform. Announced on 4 December 2025, the investigation will examine whether the policy unlawfully favours Meta and breaches Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. [1]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup>[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Commission officials are particularly concerned that the change , which, from January, would prevent external AI chatbots from contacting users via WhatsApp\u2019s business APIs , could foreclose competition in conversational AI and business messaging, harming innovation for EU consumers and companies. The probe spans the EU\u2019s 27 member states, with Italy conducting a parallel national inquiry. [1]<\/a><\/sup>[3]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup>[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Meta has defended the restrictions as necessary to protect user privacy and platform security, arguing that WhatsApp was not designed for open chatbot deployment and that opening access could expose users to risks. Industry critics and smaller AI firms counter that those justifications amount to self\u2011preferencing that entrenches Meta\u2019s position. The Commission will weigh those competing claims as part of its review. [1]<\/a><\/sup>[3]<\/a><\/sup>[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera has signalled the Commission is prepared to act swiftly if needed; officials are considering interim measures that could temporarily suspend Meta\u2019s policy while the investigation proceeds. Such orders would be aimed at preventing immediate harm to competition and to businesses that rely on AI integrations. [5]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The case sits within a broader intensification of EU scrutiny of Big Tech under the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, and follows a series of high\u2011profile fines and probes targeting large US platforms. Brussels\u2019 enforcement push has persisted despite diplomatic pressure from the United States, underscoring the bloc\u2019s determination to police gatekeeper behaviour. [2]<\/a><\/sup>[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Regulators will also probe how Meta uses WhatsApp data to train and deploy its AI features, a line of inquiry that could overlap with data\u2011protection rules and heighten the stakes of any finding of abuse. If the Commission finds an infringement, penalties can reach up to 10% of global turnover and could force changes to API access and integration practices. [1]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup>[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Market participants say the outcome could reshape how messaging platforms and AI providers interoperate. Mandated access could open new routes to market for European AI startups and established providers alike, while a favourable finding for Meta could solidify platform owners\u2019 ability to bundle proprietary AI services with dominant communication tools. [1]<\/a><\/sup>[7]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The investigation is likely to be hard\u2011fought: Meta has a record of contesting EU decisions and appeals could prolong the process. For now, the Commission\u2019s probe is a test of whether Europe\u2019s regulatory framework can ensure open competition in an era when platform control and AI capabilities increasingly determine market dynamics. [1]<\/a><\/sup>[2]<\/a><\/sup>[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n ##Reference Map:<\/p>\n\ud83d\udccc Reference Map:<\/h3>\n
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