The European Commission has opened an antitrust probe into Meta Platforms over concerns that its latest WhatsApp policy may breach EU competition rules.
The investigation focuses on a policy change introduced in October 2025, which prohibits third-party AI developers from using the WhatsApp Business Solution if their primary service is artificial intelligence. This effectively blocks general-purpose AI chatbots from accessing WhatsApp’s massive user base, while Meta’s own Meta AI assistant remains fully integrated.
EU regulators argue that the move could stifle competition, limit consumer choice, and strengthen Meta’s dominance in messaging and AI services. Officials warned that Meta could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue if found guilty of violating EU antitrust laws.
“We must ensure that dominant platforms do not use their power to shut out rivals, especially in fast-growing markets like AI,” the Commission said in a statement.
The probe comes amid Europe’s broader crackdown on Big Tech under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to prevent gatekeeping practices by large technology firms.
Meta has denied wrongdoing, insisting that its policy is designed to protect user privacy and ensure quality standards on WhatsApp. A company spokesperson described the allegations as “baseless.”
Industry analysts say the case could set a major precedent for how AI services are regulated within dominant digital platforms. If the EU forces Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI providers, it could reshape competition in the global AI chatbot market.
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