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Why is the EU taking antitrust action against Meta for blocking third‑party AI assistants on WhatsApp?
What happened
The European Commission has sent Meta a formal “Statement of Objections” setting out its preliminary view that Meta’s policy excluding third‑party AI assistants from WhatsApp may breach EU antitrust rules.
The Commission is also considering interim measures—fast, temporary protections—because it sees a risk of serious and irreparable harm to competition while the wider case continues.
Timeline (key dates)
- On 15 October 2025, Meta updated WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in a way that restricted generic third‑party AI assistants.
- From 15 January 2026, the Commission’s view is that Meta AI became the only general‑purpose AI assistant directly available on WhatsApp in the EEA, with competitors effectively excluded.
The Commission’s preliminary theory (why it matters)
The Commission’s preliminary assessment is that Meta likely holds a dominant position in the EEA market for consumer communications apps, with WhatsApp treated as a central gateway to reach users.
It also preliminarily views Meta’s restriction as a form of abuse—denying access to WhatsApp and limiting third‑party assistants’ ability to interact with users—potentially blocking entry or expansion in a fast‑growing AI assistant market.
That “gateway” framing matters because if WhatsApp is the primary route to consumers, shutting out rivals can quickly tilt the market and marginalize smaller providers before the final decision arrives.
What happens next (process)
A Statement of Objections does not decide the final outcome; it communicates concerns and the case theory, and Meta has the right to respond and defend itself.
If the legal conditions are met, the Commission can impose interim measures to pause or reverse the exclusion while the investigation continues.
The European Commission has escalated its antitrust case against Meta over WhatsApp’s AI access rules, arguing that Meta’s policy change may unlawfully shut rival AI assistants out of a key consumer gateway.
In October 2025, Meta revised its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in a way that restricted generic third‑party AI assistants. The practical effect, according to the Commission, is that from 15 January 2026 onward, Meta AI has been the only general‑purpose AI assistant directly available on WhatsApp in the European Economic Area, while competing assistants are prevented from accessing the platform and interacting with users.
The Commission’s preliminary view is built on two linked points. First, it considers Meta likely dominant in consumer communication apps in the EEA, with WhatsApp viewed as a critical route through which AI assistants can reach everyday users. Second, it believes Meta may be abusing that position by denying competitors access to WhatsApp, which could raise barriers to entry and expansion in a rapidly growing AI assistant market.
Because the Commission sees a risk of serious and irreparable harm to competition, it has signaled that interim measures may be needed to prevent market damage while the broader investigation runs its course. Meta, however, can now respond to the Statement of Objections and exercise its rights of defense, and the Commission emphasizes that this step does not predetermine the final outcome.