The European Commission has ordered Meta to allow Artificial Intelligence chatbots operated by rival firms to use WhatsApp for free while regulators continue an antitrust investigation. The intervention targets Meta’s decision to bar Artificial Intelligence providers other than Meta Artificial Intelligence from the WhatsApp for Business API, a move the Commission said appeared to infringe EU competition rules and risked serious and irreparable harm to competition in a growing market.
The EU said it began its investigation, in December 2025, after Meta banned third-party general-purpose Artificial Intelligence assistants from the WhatsApp for Business API. It said that appeared to be an abuse of Meta’s dominant position in European markets. As an interim measure as its investigation continues, the EU has given Meta five working days to re-instate access for third-party general-purpose Artificial Intelligence assistants to the WhatsApp for Business API under the same terms and conditions that were in place previously.
Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition, said competition in rapidly evolving markets can be lost before a final decision is adopted. She said the interim measures would remain in place for the duration of the investigation and would preserve choice for citizens across Europe on the Artificial Intelligence assistants they want to use with WhatsApp. The Commission said if Meta failed to comply with its interim decision it could be fined up to 10% of its total turnover.
Meta rejected the decision, saying it would allow OpenAI and other major companies to use the paid-for WhatsApp Business product for free. The company described the move as regulatory overreach subsidised by European companies that pay for access and said it will appeal. The dispute adds to strained relations between European regulators and US technology companies, with Meta previously warning that EU regulations could lead to a worse experience for European users and the Trump administration claiming that American technology firms are being unfairly targeted.
