The Eu Is Probing Meta Over Whatsapp’s Ai Chatbot Restrictions

The European Union has launched a formal investigation into Meta complete antitrust concerns pinch AI restrictions successful WhatsApp. The probe intends to “prevent immoderate imaginable irreparable harm to title successful nan AI space” according to nan EU, and follows Meta announcing changes to WhatsApp’s terms for businesses successful October that will prohibit companies from utilizing nan platform’s API to administer third-party AI chatbots.

“As a consequence of nan caller policy, competing AI providers whitethorn beryllium blocked from reaching their customers done WhatsApp,” says nan European Commission’s announcement. “On nan different hand, Meta’s ain AI work ‘Meta AI’ would stay accessible to users connected nan platform.”

The updated WhatsApp argumentation went into effect connected October 15 for AI providers that don’t already person services connected nan platform, and will use to existing AI providers connected WhatsApp starting January 15th, 2026. OpenAI and Microsoft responded to nan argumentation changes earlier this twelvemonth by announcing that ChatGPT and Copilot would beryllium removed from nan platform.

The investigation will measure whether Meta violated nan EU laws that “prohibit nan maltreatment of a ascendant position” to make it harder for smaller providers to compete pinch its ain services. There is nary deadline for nan investigation. If Meta is ruled to person breached nan bloc’s antitrust rules, it whitethorn look fines up to 10 percent of nan company’s world yearly revenue, moving retired astatine $16.45 cardinal (per Meta’s 2024 earnings).

“AI markets are booming successful Europe and beyond,” European title commissioner Teresa Ribera said successful nan announcement. “We must guarantee European citizens and businesses tin use afloat from this technological gyration and enactment to forestall ascendant integer incumbents from abusing their powerfulness to crowd retired innovative competitors.”