EU Takes Strong Action Against Meta
The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for rival AI assistants, marking a major step in Europe’s growing scrutiny of large technology platforms and artificial intelligence markets. The interim order requires Meta to give competing AI providers access to the WhatsApp Business API under the same terms that existed before the company changed its policy in October 2025.
Meta has been told to comply within five working days. The decision comes while the Commission continues its wider antitrust investigation into whether Meta used WhatsApp’s huge reach to give its own AI assistant an unfair advantage over competitors.
For users, the order does not directly change normal WhatsApp messaging. The case is mainly about the business platform that allows companies and services to connect with people through WhatsApp. However, the outcome could affect which AI assistants users in Europe are able to access through the app in the future.
Why Meta’s WhatsApp Policy Came Under Fire
The case centers on Meta’s October 2025 update to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms. Under that change, third-party general-purpose AI assistants were blocked from using the WhatsApp Business API. The policy took effect in January 2026 and left Meta AI as the only assistant with access through that route.
The WhatsApp Business API is important because it allows companies to integrate customer support, automated replies, alerts, and digital services with WhatsApp. Rival AI providers had been using this route to offer assistants directly inside WhatsApp, giving users another way to interact with AI tools without leaving the messaging app.
According to the case details, complaints came from AI developers including The Interaction Company, French startup Agentik, and a Spanish rival. Their complaints led the European Commission to open a formal investigation in December 2025.
Rival AI Assistants Were Pushed Out
Meta’s policy change forced several rival AI services to leave WhatsApp. OpenAI told users in October 2025 to move to the ChatGPT app, saying more than 50 million people had used ChatGPT on WhatsApp. Microsoft also said Copilot on WhatsApp would shut down because of Meta’s updated policy.
Meta later allowed rival AI assistants back on WhatsApp in March 2026, but only through a paid access model. The European Commission said those charges were too high and effectively kept access blocked for competitors. Regulators are now concerned that charging high fees for a previously available route could damage competition before the investigation reaches a final decision.
This is why the Commission used interim measures. Such orders are rare and are normally used when regulators believe a market may suffer serious and hard-to-repair harm if action is delayed.
What the EU Order Means for Meta
The order requires Meta to restore free access for rival AI assistants to the WhatsApp Business API under the earlier terms. It does not mean the Commission has made a final ruling that Meta broke EU competition law. The investigation is still ongoing, and the order will remain in place while the case continues, or until June 2029 at the latest.
EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said AI markets are developing quickly and that competition could be lost before a final decision is reached. If Meta is eventually found to have breached EU antitrust rules, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
Meta has rejected the decision and said it will appeal. The company argues that the Commission is forcing it to let OpenAI and other large companies use a paid WhatsApp Business product for free. Meta called the move regulatory overreach and said European businesses that pay for the service would effectively subsidize major AI companies.
What It Means for WhatsApp Users
For ordinary WhatsApp users, there is no immediate change to private chats, calls, groups, or normal messaging features. The dispute is about AI assistants operating through WhatsApp’s business platform.
If rival AI providers return, European users could again see more AI assistant options available through WhatsApp. The case may also shape how regulators treat AI distribution on major platforms in the future. As AI assistants become more common in messaging apps, app stores, browsers, and business tools, regulators are likely to watch closely whether big platforms use their control of access points to favour their own AI products.
The final outcome will be important not only for Meta, but also for AI companies that depend on large digital platforms to reach users.
