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EU Antitrust Orders Meta to Open WhatsApp to AI
10 Jun
Summary
- Meta must reinstate free access to third-party AI assistants in WhatsApp.
- The European Commission launched an antitrust investigation in December 2025.
- The order is an interim measure pending a full antitrust probe.
The European Commission has issued an interim measure compelling Meta to restore free access to third-party AI assistants within WhatsApp, specifically for European users. This directive comes as the EC continues its antitrust investigation into Meta's practices, which began in December 2025.
Meta had begun restricting access to rival AI assistants in October 2025. The EC suspects Meta is leveraging its dominant position in the chat app market to disadvantage competing AI chatbots, thereby promoting its own Meta AI. This situation echoes previous antitrust actions taken by the EU against major tech firms.
The interim order mandates Meta to reinstate access for these third-party AI services within five business days. The ongoing investigation will determine the long-term outcome of Meta's policies on the competitive AI landscape within the EU.
