Brussels moves to restore rival chatbot access as antitrust probe intensifies
BRUSSELS – The European Union escalated its confrontation with Meta Platforms on Monday, issuing formal antitrust charges and threatening emergency measures to force the tech giant to reopen WhatsApp to competing artificial intelligence assistants.
The European Commission sent Meta a statement of objections—a formal charge sheet in EU antitrust proceedings—alleging that the company’s policy change had “effectively” barred third-party AI assistants from connecting to customers via the messaging platform since January. The move marks a significant intensification of regulatory pressure on one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful companies.
Emergency Action on the Table
EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera signaled the bloc’s urgency in addressing what regulators view as anticompetitive conduct. “That is why we are considering quickly imposing interim measures on Meta, to preserve access for competitors to WhatsApp, while the investigation is ongoing, and avoid Meta’s new policy irreparably harming competition in Europe,” she stated.
Such interim measures would require Meta to maintain third-party AI assistants’ access to WhatsApp under the terms that existed before the policy change, according to Commission officials. The decision will depend on Meta’s response and exercise of its rights of defense.
Interim measures represent an extraordinary enforcement tool in EU competition law, typically reserved for situations where regulators believe ongoing practices could cause irreversible market damage. If imposed, they would effectively serve as an injunction against Meta’s current policy while the broader investigation continues.
The Policy That Sparked Investigation
The controversy stems from a WhatsApp Business Solution Terms update Meta announced in October 2025. The new policy barred AI providers from using the platform’s business API when AI technologies constitute the primary service being offered. While automated customer support and similar functions remain permitted when AI plays only an incidental role, general-purpose AI assistants are now prohibited from the platform.
The policy took full effect on January 15, 2026, triggering an exodus of AI providers. OpenAI, which had accumulated over 50 million users for ChatGPT on WhatsApp, redirected users to its standalone app. Microsoft’s Copilot and other competing assistants were similarly affected, leaving Meta’s own AI assistant as the sole general-purpose option available through WhatsApp.
The European Commission opened its formal investigation in December 2025, expressing concern that the policy could prevent third-party AI providers from offering services through WhatsApp across the European Economic Area.
Meta’s Defense
Meta has rejected the Commission’s preliminary findings outright. “The facts are that there is no reason for the EU to intervene in the WhatsApp Business API,” a company spokesperson stated. “There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and industry partnerships. The Commission’s logic incorrectly assumes the WhatsApp Business API is a key distribution channel for these chatbots.”
The company argues that the emergence of AI chatbots on its Business API created technical strain on systems not designed to support such usage at scale. Meta maintains that rival AI companies have ample alternative channels to reach users and that WhatsApp should not be treated as a mandatory gateway for AI services.
Broader Regulatory Context
The WhatsApp AI investigation represents the latest chapter in Europe’s increasingly assertive approach to regulating American tech giants. In 2025, Meta faced multiple EU enforcement actions, including a €200 million fine for violating data protection obligations and separate penalties related to consumer choice requirements.
The timing is particularly sensitive given the geopolitical tensions surrounding tech regulation. Former President Donald Trump, who has returned to office, previously threatened investigations that could lead to tariffs against nations imposing fines and regulations on U.S. tech companies. The current administration has yet to comment specifically on the WhatsApp investigation.
Italy has also launched its own parallel antitrust proceedings against Meta’s WhatsApp AI policy. The European Commission’s statement of objections covers the entire EU except Italy to avoid jurisdictional overlap.
Market Implications
Regulators argue the stakes extend beyond a single platform. “Meta’s conduct risks raising barriers to entry and expansion, and irreparably marginalizing smaller competitors on the market for general-purpose AI assistants,” the Commission stated, emphasizing what it views as an urgent need for protective measures.
The investigation comes as AI assistants have become a critical competitive battleground in the tech industry. WhatsApp, with its massive global user base, represents a potentially valuable distribution channel for AI companies seeking to reach consumers where they already spend time communicating.
If the Commission ultimately finds Meta in violation of EU antitrust rules, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue. Beyond financial penalties, regulators could impose structural remedies requiring Meta to maintain permanent access for competing AI services.
Meta now has the opportunity to respond to the statement of objections and present its defense before any final decisions are made. The case does not prejudge the ultimate outcome of the investigation, and the company retains full procedural rights under EU law.
The Commission has indicated it will move swiftly on the interim measures question, though no specific timeline has been announced for either the temporary relief or the broader investigation’s conclusion.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
