EU Opens Antitrust Probe Into Meta's WhatsApp AI Policy
- tech360.tv
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
European Union regulators have launched an antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms regarding its plans to block rival artificial intelligence providers from its WhatsApp messenger. This action could potentially halt the rollout of Meta's AI features within WhatsApp.
The move by European Union regulators is the latest against large technology firms, including Amazon and Alphabet's Google. Europe aims to balance support for the sector with efforts to curb its expanding influence.
The European Commission stated its investigation will examine Meta's new policy that may limit other AI providers' access to WhatsApp. This could potentially boost Meta's own Meta AI system, which was integrated into the platform since March.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the probe aims to prevent dominant firms from "abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors." Interim measures could be imposed to block Meta's new WhatsApp AI policy rollout.
Ribera emphasised that "AI markets are booming in Europe and beyond," adding that the investigation will determine if Meta's policy might be illegal under competition rules. Authorities will also assess whether quick action is needed to prevent irreparable harm to competition in the AI space.
A WhatsApp spokesperson called the claims "baseless," stating that the emergence of chatbots on its platforms has put a "strain on our systems that they were not designed to support," referring to AI systems from other providers.
The spokesperson added that "the AI space is highly competitive and people have access to the services of their choice in any number of ways, including app stores, search engines, email services, partnership integrations, and operating systems."
Meta AI, a chatbot and virtual assistant, has been built into WhatsApp's interface across European markets since March. The Commission indicated that a new policy, fully applicable from Jan. 15, 2026, may block competing AI providers from reaching customers via the platform.
Chief Ribera stated that the probe was initiated following complaints from small AI developers regarding the WhatsApp policy. The Interaction Company of California, which developed the AI assistant Poke.com, has taken its grievance to the EU competition enforcer.
Marvin von Hagen, co-founder and chief executive officer of The Interaction Company of California, said that if Meta is allowed to implement its new policy, "millions of European consumers will be deprived of the possibility of enjoying new and innovative AI assistants."
Spanish AI startup Luzia, which states it has more than 85 million users globally, has also lodged a complaint with the EU antitrust enforcer. Pablo Delgado, Luzia's head of brands and communications, explained his organisation has invested heavily in growing its app and web version.
Delgado noted that WhatsApp "remains a key channel for discovery and access." He added that if Meta's policy remains in place, "that gateway will close for millions of users and many businesses that depend on it."
Meta risks a fine of as much as 10% of its global annual turnover if found guilty of breaching EU antitrust rules. Italy's antitrust watchdog opened a parallel investigation in July into allegations Meta leveraged its market power by integrating an AI tool into WhatsApp.
That probe was expanded in Nov. to examine whether Meta further abused its dominance by blocking rival AI chatbots from the messaging platform. The antitrust investigation is a more traditional means than the EU's Digital Markets Act.
The Digital Markets Act, the bloc's landmark legislation, is currently used to scrutinise Amazon's and Microsoft's cloud services for potential curbs. Europe was the first in the world to establish a comprehensive legal framework for AI, setting guardrails for AI systems and rules for certain high-risk applications in the AI Act.
EU regulators initiated an antitrust probe into Meta Platforms over its WhatsApp AI policy.
The investigation focuses on Meta's plans to block rival AI providers from WhatsApp, potentially boosting its own Meta AI system.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera stated interim measures could be imposed to halt the policy rollout, citing concerns about competition and potential irreparable harm.
Source: REUTERS