BRUSSELS – The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms, focusing on its WhatsApp messaging service and recent policy changes that restrict access for rival artificial intelligence providers.
The probe, announced on 4 December, centres on Meta’s October 2025 update to WhatsApp’s terms of service. Under the new rules, third-party AI firms are barred from using the WhatsApp Business Solution if their chatbot or AI tool is the primary service offered.
Businesses may still employ AI for ancillary functions, such as automated customer support, but not as the main product.
Regulators fear this policy could give Meta’s own assistant, Meta AI, an unfair advantage. Integrated into WhatsApp earlier this year, Meta AI offers a range of tools directly inside chats.
By limiting competitors such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot, the Commission argues that Meta may be abusing its dominant position in the messaging market.
EU competition chief Teresa Ribera stated that the bloc must act to prevent “dominant firms from abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors.” Officials are considering interim measures, including halting Meta’s rollout of new AI features on WhatsApp until the investigation concludes.
Meta has rejected the allegations, describing the claims as “baseless.” A spokesperson insisted that the company’s policies are designed to protect users and ensure safe integration of AI tools.
However, fines for breaching EU antitrust rules can reach up to 10 per cent of a company’s annual global revenue.
The case adds to mounting pressure on Big Tech firms in Europe, where regulators have already taken action against Amazon, Google and Apple.
The probe also comes under the framework of the Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb anti-competitive behaviour by large platforms.
Industry analysts note that the outcome could reshape how AI services are delivered through messaging platforms.
For European consumers, the investigation raises questions about whether they will continue to have access to diverse AI tools or be limited to Meta’s own ecosystem.
The Commission has not set a timeline for its final decision, but the investigation underscores Europe’s increasingly assertive stance in regulating digital markets.
