EU Says Meta Must Allow Rival AI Chatbots on WhatsApp

Overview

• European Commission sent a Statement of Objections to Meta, saying WhatsApp’s exclusion of external AI services likely violates EU competition rules and noting the app is a key entry point for assistants.
• Brussels said it is preparing provisional measures to swiftly preserve competitor access while the full antitrust investigation proceeds.
• Meta’s policy change announced in October and effective January 15 bars businesses from using independent AI chatbots on WhatsApp, leaving Meta AI as the only assistant available.
• Meta rejected the EU’s assessment, arguing there is no basis for intervention and citing alternative access via app stores, devices, websites, and concerns about system load from third-party bots.
• Italy’s competition authority separately ordered in December that the new WhatsApp business terms be suspended in the Italian market during its own probe.