The European Union has escalated its scrutiny of Meta Platforms, issuing a stark warning that could force the tech giant to reverse course on restricting rival AI tools within WhatsApp. On Monday, the European Commission dispatched a statement of objections to Meta, outlining preliminary findings that the company has breached antitrust rules by excluding third-party AI assistants from the messaging platform.
Since 15 January 2026, Meta’s updated policy has permitted only its own Meta AI assistant to operate on WhatsApp, effectively barring competitors from offering their services through the app’s business API. Regulators argue this conduct risks blocking rivals from entering or expanding in the fast-growing market for AI assistants.”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,” a Commission spokesperson stated.
The threat of interim measures echoes actions taken by Italy’s competition authority in December, which ordered Meta to halt similar restrictions. The Commission’s final decision on such measures will hinge on Meta’s response and its exercise of rights of defence.
Meta pushed back swiftly. A company spokesperson declared: “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.”
This clash highlights broader tensions in the AI era. For millions of users who rely on WhatsApp daily for personal chats and business interactions, the debate touches on choice: should one company’s platform dictate which AI helpers appear in conversations, or should competition flourish to drive innovation and better features? The outcome could reshape how AI integrates into everyday communication tools across Europe.
Author:Oje. Ese