EU opens antitrust probe into Meta over WhatsApp AI access

The European Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation on December 4 into Meta Platforms’ decision to limit third party artificial intelligence providers’ access to WhatsApp, a move that regulators said could unfairly advantage Meta’s own AI features on the messaging service. The probe will examine whether the policy, due to take effect in January, would prevent competing AI services from reaching European users through the app and whether interim remedies are required while the inquiry proceeds.

Commission officials framed the investigation as part of a broader effort to scrutinize how major technology platforms deploy generative AI and exert control over key channels to consumers. Regulators will assess whether Meta’s restrictions create a structural barrier that channels user data and interaction through the company’s own AI, effectively foreclosing rivals from an essential distribution route. The inquiry will also consider the impact on developers and smaller firms that rely on WhatsApp connectivity to offer AI driven services to customers in Europe.

European competition authorities have the power to order interim measures when they determine that a conduct may cause "irreparable harm" to competition, and the Commission said it will weigh whether such measures are warranted in this case. If interim steps are imposed, they could require Meta to maintain or restore access for third party AI providers while the investigation continues. The length of the probe will depend on the complexity of the evidence and the scope of market effects identified by investigators.

Meta’s policy change has attracted attention because WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms in Europe, with hundreds of millions of users. Industry observers and rival AI developers have warned that restricting access to the app’s infrastructure could hinder innovation by limiting the ability of independent services to interact with users at scale. For Meta, integrating its own AI into WhatsApp is part of a wider strategy to embed generative models across its products, a move the company argues will improve user experience and safety.

The Commission’s decision signals heightened regulatory scrutiny at a moment when national and EU level authorities are increasingly focused on the competitive implications of generative AI and platform gatekeeping. Since adopting new digital rules in recent years, Brussels has signaled a willingness to intervene quickly where platforms’ technical choices risk entrenching market power or shutting down rivals. Enforcement can lead to remedies ranging from behavioral obligations to structural changes in how platforms handle data and interoperability.

The inquiry will require Meta to provide information to the Commission and could lead to formal commitments offers or, if concerns persist, to enforcement actions under EU competition law. For developers and businesses aiming to deploy AI services in Europe, the probe is likely to be closely watched as an early test case over whether platform operators can limit third party access to widely used communication channels. The outcome may shape how AI features are rolled out across major platforms in the months and years ahead.