European Commission Probes Meta's WhatsApp AI Policy in Antitrust Inquiry

The European Commission has initiated a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms Inc.'s recent policy change affecting artificial intelligence (AI) providers' access to WhatsApp. Announced in October 2025 and set to take effect on January 15, 2026, the policy prohibits AI providers from using the WhatsApp Business Solution when AI is their primary service. This move effectively bars third-party AI chatbots from the platform.

The Commission is concerned that this policy may prevent competing AI providers from reaching their customers through WhatsApp, while Meta's own AI service, Meta AI, remains accessible. The investigation aims to assess whether this policy breaches EU competition rules by potentially abusing Meta's dominant market position to favor its own services over those of competitors.

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasized the need to safeguard fair competition and ensure that European consumers and businesses benefit from the AI revolution. She stated, "AI markets are booming in Europe and beyond. We must ensure European citizens and businesses can benefit fully from this technological revolution and act to prevent dominant digital incumbents from abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors."

In response, WhatsApp has stated that the claims are baseless, asserting that the emergence of AI chatbots on their Business API puts a strain on systems not designed to support them. They also emphasized that the AI space remains highly competitive, with users having access to various services through multiple platforms.

The European Commission's inquiry reflects broader scrutiny of major tech companies' use of AI technologies and their compliance with competition laws. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the AI industry, particularly concerning the accessibility of platforms for third-party AI providers and the competitive landscape of AI services.

This investigation excludes Italy, where the national competition authority has already launched a separate probe into Meta's conduct regarding AI integration in WhatsApp.

The European Commission is considering imposing interim measures against Meta due to its planned integration of AI features into WhatsApp, reflecting broader scrutiny of major tech companies' use of AI technologies and their compliance with competition laws.