EU Opens Antitrust Probe into Meta Over WhatsApp AI Policy
European Union regulators have launched an antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms over concerns that its new artificial intelligence features in WhatsApp could unfairly restrict competitors. Officials warned they may temporarily suspend the rollout of these tools, underscoring Europe’s increasingly firm stance on Big Tech regulation.
The move, first reported by Reuters and the Financial Times, marks the latest in a series of actions targeting large technology firms such as Amazon and Google. EU authorities aim to encourage innovation while curbing the growing dominance of digital giants.
Scrutiny Over WhatsApp’s AI Integration
The European Commission announced that it would examine Meta’s policy, which could limit third-party AI providers from accessing WhatsApp. The measure could benefit Meta’s own virtual assistant, Meta AI, which was integrated into the messaging platform earlier this year.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the investigation was launched to ensure major players do not “abuse their power to crowd out innovative competitors.” She added that interim measures could be applied to block the policy while the inquiry continues.
“AI markets are booming in Europe and beyond,” Ribera said. “We are investigating whether Meta’s policy may violate competition rules and whether urgent action is needed to prevent harm to the AI ecosystem.”
A WhatsApp spokesperson dismissed the claims as “baseless,” stating that the increasing use of third-party chatbots had placed “strain on systems not designed to support them.” The spokesperson added that users still had ample access to alternative AI services through other platforms and integrations.
Complaints from AI Startups
Meta AI, a chatbot embedded in WhatsApp across European markets since March, is set to become fully operational under a new policy from 15 January 2026. Regulators said the probe was prompted by complaints from smaller AI developers who argue the policy could block access to users.
California-based The Interaction Company, developer of the AI assistant Poke.com, lodged one of the formal grievances. Its CEO, Marvin von Hagen, warned that Meta’s policy could “deprive millions of Europeans of the chance to use innovative AI assistants.”
Spanish AI firm Luzia, which claims over 85 million users worldwide, also filed a complaint. “WhatsApp remains a vital gateway for discovery and access,” said Pablo Delgado, the company’s head of brands and communications. “If this policy stands, that gateway will close for millions of users and the businesses that depend on it.”
Broader Enforcement and Possible Penalties
If found guilty of breaching EU antitrust laws, Meta could face a fine of up to 10% of its global annual revenue. Italy’s competition authority has launched a parallel investigation, focusing on whether Meta exploited its dominance by embedding AI features into WhatsApp and restricting rival chatbot access.
Unlike probes under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, this case follows traditional antitrust procedures. The Act is already being used to examine the conduct of Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud services.
with inputs from Reuters