EU antitrust regulators have told Meta they might take temporary action if the company blocks rival AI services from using WhatsApp. This warning adds to the ongoing dispute about sharing AI tools on major messaging platforms.
Regulators weigh emergency steps
The European Commission has officially charged Meta and is considering temporary steps that could prompt the company to change its behavior during the antitrust investigation. Reuters reports that regulators worry Meta’s policies might stop rival AI chatbots from reaching WhatsApp users, which could hurt competition.
A main issue is a policy change implemented in mid-January that the Commission believes could give Meta’s AI assistant better placement in WhatsApp than competing tools.
Meta rejects claims of unfair blocking
In a statement to Yahoo Finance, Meta criticized the EU’s antitrust action and said WhatsApp is not the only way for AI chatbots to reach users.
Meta said users can access AI services in many ways, including apps, devices, and web platforms. The company argues that limiting third-party access to WhatsApp does not constitute a barrier to competition.
The investigation shows that regulators are concerned that big platforms could favor their own AI products by controlling where and how competitors appear.
Interim measures are rare, but authorities can use them if they think the market might change quickly before a final decision. This has become a major entry point for digital services, and integrating AI assistants directly into chats could shape how users discover and use new tools.
The Commission’s warning signals that officials consider the issue urgent enough to warrant early intervention as the case unfolds.
What happens next in the antitrust case
The European Commission will review Meta’s response to the charges before deciding whether to set temporary rules. Meta still believes competition is strong in the AI market and that rivals do not need WhatsApp to reach users.
The result of this case could affect how AI assistants are added to big platforms in Europe. Regulators are paying more attention to whether large tech companies are using their systems to shape the growing AI market.
