The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation into Meta over its WhatsApp AI policy, examining whether the company's restrictions on third-party AI providers breach EU competition rules. Meta announced in October a policy restricting AI providers's access to contact customers via WhatsApp.
The investigation will cover the entire European Economic Area except Italy, which is conducting its own proceedings concerning possible interim measures against Meta's conduct. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera stated that the Commission is investigating whether Meta's new policy might be illegal under competition rules and whether swift action is needed to prevent harm to competition. Companies found to breach EU antitrust rules face fines of up to 10% of annual revenue. Meta rolled out its AI feature into WhatsApp in March across European countries after initially delaying the introduction due to the region's complex regulatory system. No closing date has been set for the investigation, though previous cases have run for years.
This investigation underscores the EU's intensifying scrutiny of how dominant technology platforms integrate AI capabilities, particularly when such integration may disadvantage competing AI providers seeking access to established user bases. The outcome will shape how major platforms balance their own AI ambitions with fair competition obligations in the European market.
Sources:
1. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/04/meta-faces-europe-antitrust-investigation-over-whatsapp-ai-rollout.html
2. https://www.marketscreener.com/news/meta-s-whatsapp-ai-policy-in-eu-antitrust-crosshairs-ce7d51dfda80ff20
3. https://www.irishtimes.com/technology/big-tech/2025/12/04/eu-to-launch-antitrust-probe-into-meta-over-use-of-ai-in-whatsapp/
