EU Probes Meta Over WhatsApp AI-Chatbot Ban: What It Means for Competition
Meta is under antitrust scrutiny in Europe after deciding that WhatsApp will only support Meta AI, effectively barring rival AI chatbots from the platform. The European Commission announced on Thursday that it is launching a formal investigation into Meta’s policy change, which prohibits other AI providers from using WhatsApp’s business tools to offer their chatbots to users within the app.
In October, WhatsApp updated its business API terms to bar general-purpose chatbots from distribution on the platform. The change, set to take effect in January, would limit access for AI offerings from OpenAI, Perplexity, Poke, and similar providers. However, it does not apply to AI-powered customer-service bots that businesses run on WhatsApp; those can still operate through the API. The restriction targets only consumer-facing chatbots like ChatGPT.
The EU argues the policy could block third-party AI services from reaching customers via WhatsApp in the European Economic Area (EEA). The Commission warned that, as a result, competing AI providers might be prevented from reaching users on the platform, while Meta’s own Meta AI would remain accessible.
Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, underscored the broader concern: AI markets are expanding rapidly in Europe and beyond, and there is a need to ensure that European citizens and businesses can fully benefit from this technological shift. She indicated that the Commission is examining whether Meta’s new policy could violate EU competition rules and whether prompt action is warranted to prevent any irreparable harm to competition in the AI sector.
If Meta is found to have breached EU antitrust rules, penalties could reach up to 10% of its global annual revenue, in addition to any other remedial measures the Commission deems appropriate.
WhatsApp has dismissed the EU’s claims as baseless, arguing that users have ample alternatives to access rival AI chatbots. A spokesperson stated that the AI boom is highly competitive and that people can choose from multiple channels—such as app stores, search engines, email services, partner integrations, and operating systems—to access third-party AI services.
Ram Iyer is a financial and tech reporter, previously covering M&A, regulation, and markets for Reuters and Acuris Global, with bylines across travel, entertainment, and books. For media inquiries or to verify outreach, contact ram.iyer@techcrunch.com.
