EU Probes Meta Over WhatsApp AI Chatbot Restrictions
The European Commission has officially opened an antitrust investigation into Meta regarding recent modifications to its WhatsApp business policies. Regulators are scrutinizing the company’s decision to prohibit third-party artificial intelligence chatbots from operating on the messaging platform, a move that could significantly limit consumer choice within the European Economic Area (EEA).
The core of the dispute lies in a policy update for the WhatsApp Business API announced in October. Scheduled to take effect in January, these changes restrict the distribution of general-purpose AI chatbots. While the policy allows for AI-driven customer service tools—such as those used by retailers—it effectively blocks independent AI providers like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Poke from reaching users through the app.
Regulatory Concerns Over Market Dominance
European officials expressed apprehension that these restrictions create an uneven playing field. By excluding competitors, Meta secures a unique advantage for its own service, Meta AI, which remains fully integrated and accessible to the platform’s massive user base.
Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition at the European Commission, emphasized the necessity of maintaining a fair digital landscape:
- “AI markets are booming in Europe and beyond. We must ensure European citizens and businesses can benefit fully from this technological revolution.”
- “We are investigating if Meta’s new policy might be illegal under competition rules, and whether we should act quickly to prevent any possible irreparable harm to competition in the AI space.”
If the European Commission determines that Meta has violated antitrust regulations, the company faces severe financial penalties. Potential sanctions include fines reaching up to 10% of its total global annual revenue, alongside potential mandates to alter its business practices.
WhatsApp Defends Policy Change
In response to the inquiry, Meta’s messaging subsidiary dismissed the allegations as “baseless.” A spokesperson for the company argued that the policy is a technical necessity rather than an anti-competitive maneuver.
According to the company, the surge of general-purpose AI chatbots on its Business API creates system strains that the infrastructure was not originally built to handle. Furthermore, the firm maintains that the broader AI market remains highly competitive, noting that users currently access rival services through various channels, including search engines, app stores, email platforms, and operating systems.
The European Commission continues to assess whether these restrictions constitute an abuse of power by a dominant digital incumbent, aiming to prevent the crowding out of innovative competitors in the rapidly evolving AI sector.