The European Commission has issued a warning to Meta, stating its preliminary view that Meta is violating EU antitrust rules. This stems from Meta preventing third-party artificial intelligence (AI) assistants from accessing and interacting with WhatsApp users.
Concerns Over Market Access
The Commission believes Meta’s actions risk hindering the ability of competitors to enter or expand within the rapidly growing AI assistant market. The Commission intends to impose provisional measures to prevent what it describes as “serious and irreparable harm” to the market.
Policy Changes and Restrictions
On October 15, 2025, Meta announced an update to its WhatsApp Business Solution terms of use, effectively prohibiting the use of third-party general-purpose AI assistants on the application. Since January 15, 2026, Meta AI is the only AI assistant available on WhatsApp, excluding competitors.
Dominant Position and Potential Abuse
The European Commission preliminarily concludes that Meta likely holds a dominant position in the European Economic Space market for consumer communication applications, particularly through WhatsApp. Brussels also believes Meta is likely abusing this dominant position by denying access to WhatsApp to other companies, including third-party AI assistants.
WhatsApp is considered an essential entry point for general-purpose AI assistants to reach consumers. The Commission states there is an urgent need for precautionary measures due to the risk of serious and irreparable damage to competition. Meta’s conduct risks creating barriers to entry and expansion, and marginalizing smaller competitors in the general-purpose AI assistant market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the European Commission’s warning to Meta?
The warning stems from Meta preventing third-party AI assistants from accessing and interacting with WhatsApp users, which the Commission believes violates EU antitrust rules.
When did the restrictions on third-party AI assistants take effect?
The restrictions took effect on January 15, 2026, making Meta AI the only AI assistant available on WhatsApp.
What is the Commission’s primary concern regarding Meta’s actions?
The Commission is concerned that Meta’s actions will hinder competition in the AI assistant market and potentially cause irreparable harm to the market.
As the Commission considers next steps, it remains to be seen how Meta will respond to these concerns and whether further measures will be taken to ensure a competitive landscape for AI assistants.
