Brussels, 4 December 2025 — The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Meta over concerns that the company’s new policy restricting artificial intelligence providers’ access to WhatsApp may violate EU competition rules.
The probe, announced today, centers on a policy Meta unveiled in October 2025 that prevents AI providers from using WhatsApp’s key business communication tool — the WhatsApp Business Solution — when AI is the primary service offered. Businesses may still deploy AI tools on WhatsApp for limited ancillary functions, such as automated customer support, but not for offering standalone AI assistants or services directly through the platform.
The Commission fears the change could effectively block third-party AI companies from reaching customers within the European Economic Area (EEA), while leaving Meta’s own conversational assistant, Meta AI, fully available on WhatsApp.
Several AI providers currently allow users to interact with conversational models on WhatsApp, enabling tasks such as question-answering, content generation, and real-time support. According to the Commission, Meta plans to enforce the new restrictions through updated WhatsApp Business API terms. For AI providers already active on the platform, the rules take effect on 15 January 2026; for newcomers, they have applied since 15 October 2025.
Competition Concerns
By limiting access for rival AI services, regulators worry Meta could leverage its dominance in messaging to favor its own technology. WhatsApp is one of the world’s most widely used communications services and a crucial channel for businesses engaging customers.
“This is why we are investigating if Meta’s new policy might be illegal under competition rules, and whether we should act quickly to prevent any possible irreparable harm to competition in the AI space,” said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, in a statement. “AI markets are booming in Europe and beyond. We must ensure European citizens and businesses can benefit fully from this technological revolution and act to prevent dominant digital incumbents from abusing their power.”
The investigation will examine whether Meta’s conduct constitutes an abuse of a dominant position under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement.
Scope and Next Steps
The probe will cover the entire EEA except Italy, where the national competition authority is already assessing Meta’s conduct and implementing interim measures, as reported. Under EU rules, the Commission’s opening of proceedings suspends the competence of other national authorities on the same matter to prevent conflicting outcomes.
The case — registered as AT.41034 — forms part of the Commission’s broader scrutiny of fast-growing AI markets, following a public consultation in early 2024 and the publication of an AI policy paper last September.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2896
