Overview
- The European Commission said Meta’s plan to charge rival chatbots for WhatsApp entry would replicate a ban and breach EU competition rules.
- The regulator plans interim measures that restore third-party assistants on the same terms used before Meta’s October 2025 policy shift.
- Meta introduced paid access in March after the EU found the earlier policy had “effectively” cut off competing assistants on WhatsApp.
- The investigation now extends to Italy and covers the entire European Economic Area, widening potential enforcement across the bloc.
- Officials warn that tying WhatsApp’s more than three billion users to Meta AI could disadvantage smaller chatbot makers and limit choice for people and businesses.