TLDR
- European Commission filed antitrust charges against Meta for restricting WhatsApp to only Meta AI assistant starting January 15
- EU regulators plan emergency interim measures to force Meta to allow third-party AI assistants back on WhatsApp
- Meta defends policy saying WhatsApp Business API isn’t a critical AI distribution channel with many alternatives existing
- Teresa Ribera says fast regulatory action necessary to protect competition in rapidly evolving AI industry
- Meta previously fined 200 million euros by EU in April 2025 for separate data protection violations
The European Commission charged Meta with competition law violations Monday. Regulators accuse the tech giant of unfairly blocking rival AI services from WhatsApp.
Meta received a formal statement of objections from EU authorities. The charge sheet claims the company broke antitrust rules by limiting WhatsApp to its own Meta AI assistant.
The policy went live on January 15. Meta announced the WhatsApp Business Solution Terms update last October before implementing it this year.
Brussels now threatens emergency intervention. The Commission plans interim measures forcing Meta to reverse the WhatsApp AI restrictions while the investigation proceeds.
Regulators Ready Emergency Action
EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera outlined the rationale for quick regulatory response. She emphasized the need to match the speed of AI market development.
“AI markets are developing at rapid pace, so we also need to be swift in our action,” Ribera explained. The measures aim to preserve competitor access and stop irreparable damage to European competition.
The interim action would restore previous access conditions. Third-party AI assistants would regain WhatsApp access under the terms that existed before Meta’s policy change.
A Commission representative confirmed to CNBC the emergency measures protect market competition. The restrictions on Meta would remain during the full investigation period.
Company Defends WhatsApp Changes
Meta rejected the EU’s antitrust concerns. A company representative called the regulatory intervention unnecessary.
“There is no reason for the EU to intervene in the WhatsApp Business API,” the Meta spokesperson stated. The company highlighted AI availability through app stores, operating systems, devices, and partnership agreements.
Meta challenged the Commission’s core premise. The company contends WhatsApp Business API doesn’t function as an essential distribution method for AI chatbot services.
The antitrust case compounds Meta’s European regulatory challenges. American tech companies paid billions in EU penalties during 2025.
Meta received a 200 million euro fine in April. Regulators penalized the company for failing to provide users adequate choice regarding personal data collection and usage.
Apple faced a 500 million euro penalty the same month for anti-steering violations. Google absorbed the largest hit with a 2.95 billion euro fine in September for online advertising antitrust breaches.
The Commission hasn’t issued final decisions on interim measures. Meta maintains rights to defend itself before emergency actions become binding.
The antitrust investigation continues without a set completion date. EU officials haven’t disclosed when they expect to finish reviewing Meta’s WhatsApp AI policy.
Meta’s response to the charges will determine next steps. The company must address the Commission’s objections before regulators impose penalties or mandate policy reversals.
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