EU Investigates Meta Over WhatsApp AI Chatbot Limits
▼ Summary
– The European Union has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Meta over AI restrictions in WhatsApp, aiming to prevent harm to competition in the AI space.
– The probe focuses on WhatsApp’s updated policy that prohibits businesses from using its API to distribute third-party AI chatbots, which could block competitors.
– The policy change, effective October 15 for new providers and January 2026 for existing ones, allows Meta’s own AI service, “Meta AI,” to remain accessible on the platform.
– The investigation will assess if Meta abused a dominant market position; if found in breach, it could face fines up to 10% of its global annual revenue, roughly $16.45 billion.
– The EU’s competition commissioner stated the goal is to ensure citizens and businesses benefit from AI innovation and prevent dominant firms from crowding out competitors.
The European Union has initiated a formal antitrust investigation into Meta, focusing on new restrictions within WhatsApp that could stifle competition in the artificial intelligence sector. The probe centers on policy changes that would block businesses from using WhatsApp’s API to distribute third-party AI chatbots, a move the EU fears could unfairly advantage Meta’s own AI service. Officials stated the action aims to prevent irreparable harm to the competitive landscape as AI markets experience rapid growth.
According to the European Commission, the updated WhatsApp terms effectively prevent competing AI providers from reaching their customer base through the popular messaging platform. Meanwhile, Meta’s proprietary service, called Meta AI, would continue to operate without restriction. This discrepancy has raised significant concerns about potential anti-competitive behavior, prompting regulators to scrutinize whether Meta is abusing a dominant market position.
The policy in question took effect on October 15th for new AI providers seeking to use WhatsApp. For existing AI services operating on the platform, the restrictions will be enforced starting January 15th, 2026. The announcement has already prompted major industry players to react; earlier this year, both OpenAI and Microsoft stated they would withdraw their respective ChatGPT and Copilot services from WhatsApp in response to the new rules.
The core of the investigation will be to determine if Meta has violated EU laws that forbid companies with significant market power from using their dominance to suppress competition. There is no set timeline for concluding the inquiry. Should the company be found in breach of antitrust regulations, it could face substantial financial penalties. Fines may reach up to ten percent of Meta’s total global annual turnover, which based on its 2024 earnings, could amount to a staggering $16.45 billion.
European Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera emphasized the importance of maintaining a fair playing field during a period of intense technological innovation. She noted that AI markets are expanding quickly across Europe and globally, underscoring the need to ensure that both citizens and businesses can reap the full benefits of this revolution. The regulatory action is positioned as a necessary step to prevent established digital giants from leveraging their power to marginalize innovative rivals.
(Source: The Verge)
