EU warns Meta over blocking rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp

Source: Engadget

Background

The issue arose in October when Meta announced updates to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms. According to the European Commission, the January 15 update would “effectively” make Meta AI the only AI assistant available on WhatsApp. The regulatory agency opened an investigation into the matter on December 4.

EU’s Preliminary View

The European Commission announced a preliminary view that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, violated antitrust laws by blocking third‑party AI assistants from operating on WhatsApp. The Commission is concerned that Meta’s actions could limit competitors from entering the AI‑assistant market.

“We must protect effective competition in this vibrant field, which means we cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance to give themselves an unfair advantage,”
— Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice‑President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

Ribera added that the rapid development of AI markets requires swift action, and the Commission is considering interim measures to preserve access for competitors while the investigation continues, preventing any irreversible harm to competition in Europe.

Potential Interim Measures

The Commission indicated it could impose interim measures against WhatsApp to ensure competitors retain access to the platform during the investigation.

Meta’s Response

Meta responded quickly to the allegations:

“The facts are that there is no reason for the EU to intervene in the WhatsApp Business API. There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and industry partnerships.” – Meta spokesperson, Reuters

Next Steps

The EU’s statement serves as a warning that the Commission believes Meta may have breached antitrust regulations. A final decision has not yet been made, and Meta has been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

Original article: Engadget