EU orders Meta to restore WhatsApp AI competitor access
The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for competing artificial intelligence assistants within five working days. The decision represents the first interim antitrust measure taken by the European Union in 17 years and follows a six-month dispute over access to one of the most widely used messaging platforms in Europe.
The Commission said the restriction of access to WhatsApp Business application programming interfaces had raised concerns that competition in the emerging AI assistant market could be weakened before a final ruling is issued. It argued that in fast-moving digital markets, harm to competition can occur before formal decisions are completed, making rapid intervention necessary to prevent long-term damage.
Under the order, Meta must reinstate conditions that existed before October 2025, when policy changes began limiting third-party AI services on WhatsApp. Those restrictions were enforced in January 2026 and resulted in Meta AI becoming the only assistant with full functionality on the platform. The Commission said rival AI tools must again be allowed to operate under equal terms.
The case originated from complaints filed by several AI developers in the United States, France and Spain, who argued that Meta’s control over WhatsApp distribution channels disadvantaged smaller competitors. The Commission opened a formal investigation in December 2025. Meta later proposed a paid access model and then a limited free usage tier, but regulators and complainants rejected both options.
Meta faces potential fines of up to 10 percent of its global annual turnover if it fails to comply with the interim measures. The company can challenge the decision before EU courts in Luxembourg. The ruling underscores growing regulatory pressure on major technology firms as authorities move to shape competition rules in the artificial intelligence sector.
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