Overview
- EU competition authorities have issued an interim measure requiring Meta to give rival AI chatbots free access to WhatsApp while a formal antitrust investigation continues.
- The probe began after complaints from small developers and startups and includes formal charges that cite access fees Meta levied as so high they may block viable competition.
- EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said regulators found Meta’s fee justification unconvincing and questioned whether the charges were economically sustainable for rivals.
- Meta is simultaneously expanding AI infrastructure by raising 2026 capital spending, restructuring partnerships, leasing large data-center capacity and exploring funding to scale inference power.
- Investors and analysts remain broadly confident in Meta’s AI strategy with high-conviction hedge-fund positions, a large stake held by David Tepper’s fund and a maintained Buy rating from Truist, and the case could reshape how messaging platforms monetize access if remedies follow.