EU Investigates Meta's WhatsApp Policy Over Potential Antitrust Violations

The European Commission has initiated a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms Inc. over a new policy that may restrict rival artificial intelligence (AI) providers from accessing WhatsApp. Announced in October 2025 and set to take effect on January 15, 2026, Meta's policy prohibits AI providers from utilizing the WhatsApp Business Solution when AI is their primary service. The Commission is concerned that this restriction could prevent third-party AI providers from offering their services through WhatsApp within the European Economic Area (EEA), potentially violating EU competition rules. Notably, Meta's own AI service, 'Meta AI,' would remain accessible on the platform. The investigation encompasses all EEA countries except Italy, where a separate probe is underway.

In October 2025, Meta updated its WhatsApp Business API policy to prohibit general-purpose AI chatbots from operating on its platform. This change affects AI assistant services provided by companies such as OpenAI, Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke. The updated terms state that AI technologies cannot use the WhatsApp Business Solution if the chatbot itself is the main service being offered. Meta's rationale is that the WhatsApp Business API is designed for businesses serving customers rather than acting as a platform for chatbot distribution.

The European Commission's investigation focuses on whether Meta's new policy restricts third-party AI services within the EEA, potentially violating EU competition rules. The Commission is concerned that the policy may prevent third-party AI providers from offering their services through WhatsApp, while Meta's own AI service, 'Meta AI,' remains accessible. This could give Meta an unfair advantage over competitors.

Teresa Ribera, the Commission's Vice-President for Competition Affairs, emphasized the importance of safeguarding fair competition and ensuring 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."

A WhatsApp spokesperson defended the policy change, noting that the rise of AI chatbots on its Business API is putting pressure on systems that were not designed to handle such loads. The spokesperson stated, "Even still, the AI space is highly competitive and people have access to the services of their choice in any number of ways, including app stores, search engines, email services, partnership integrations, and operating systems."

This investigation is part of a broader effort by the European Commission to scrutinize the practices of major tech companies in the AI sector. For instance, the Commission has also launched an antitrust investigation into Google's use of online publisher content and YouTube videos to train its AI models. This reflects growing concerns over Big Tech's dominance in the emerging AI sector and the potential for anti-competitive behavior.

The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the AI industry and digital communication platforms. If the Commission finds that Meta's policy violates EU competition rules, it could lead to changes in how AI services are integrated into messaging platforms, potentially fostering a more competitive environment. Conversely, if Meta's policy is upheld, it may set a precedent for other platform owners to restrict third-party AI services, potentially limiting consumer choice and innovation in the AI sector.

As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders across the tech industry will be closely monitoring developments, recognizing the potential for this case to shape the future landscape of AI integration and competition within digital platforms.