EU Investigates Meta’s AI Policy on WhatsApp for Antitrust Violations
- The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Meta’s policy changes on WhatsApp.
- Meta’s new policy allows its own AI to operate on WhatsApp while blocking third-party AI providers.
- The probe covers the entire European Economic Area, excluding Italy, where separate proceedings are ongoing.
- Updated business terms prohibit third-party AI companies from using WhatsApp’s business API if AI is their primary service.
- Existing AI providers must comply by January 15, 2026, while new ones have been blocked since October.
The European Commission is investigating whether Meta’s policy change constitutes an abuse of dominant market position under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement. This investigation is crucial as it examines potential exclusionary effects that could limit competition in AI-enabled services.
The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how dominant platforms manage access to their services by competitors in the European Economic Area. (Source)
