EU Moves Against Meta Over Blocking Rival AI Assistants on WhatsApp
Feb 9, 2026
The European Union (EU) has charged Meta Platforms, the owner of WhatsApp, with breaking antitrust rules by blocking rival artificial intelligence (AI) assistants from its messaging app WhatsApp.
The European Commission announced that it plans to impose interim measures to prevent Meta from excluding third-party AI assistants. This means Meta may be required to allow other AI services to operate on its platform while the investigation continues.
These actions come after the EU launched an investigation in December into whether Meta's AI-related policies could hurt competition by keeping other AI providers off WhatsApp.
Meta has criticized the EU's decision, but regulators say this step is necessary to ensure fair competition as AI tools become more common on popular digital platforms.
What is Meta accused of by the EU?
Meta is accused of breaking EU antitrust rules by blocking other companies' AI assistants from working on WhatsApp.
What are interim measures?
Interim measures are temporary rules the EU can use to stop certain actions until a full investigation is finished.
Why does this matter for WhatsApp users?
If Meta is required to open WhatsApp to rival AI assistants, users may see more choice and innovation in the AI tools they can use within the app.
What has Meta said about the EU's move?
Meta has criticized the EU's decision and the threat of interim measures.
Sources
EU threatens Meta with interim measure for blocking AI rivals from WhatsApp
Reuters
Reuters
EU competition regulators on Monday charged Meta Platforms with breaching antitrust rules by blocking artificial intelligence rivals from its messaging service WhatsApp and threatened to impose interim measures against the U.S. tech giant.
Meta criticises EU antitrust move against WhatsApp block on AI rivals
Reuters
Reuters
Meta Platforms on Monday criticised EU regulators after they charged the U.S. tech giant with breaching antitrust rules and threaten to halt its block on AI rivals on its messaging service WhatsApp.
EU announces it plans to impose measures on Meta to reverse WhatsApp AI policy
CNBC
CNBC
The European Commission has told Meta it intends to impose "interim measures" to stop it from excluding third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp. In December, the bloc opened an investigation into Meta over whether its new AI policy was in breach of antitrust rules.
Meta Hit by EU Warning to Open WhatsApp to Rival AI Chatbots
Bloomberg Markets and Finance
Bloomberg Markets and Finance
European Union Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera discusses the EU's warning given to Meta over policies that block the use of rival AI assistants on WhatsApp, raising the possibility of further tensions with the Trump administration over the regulation of US tech companies. Speaking on Bloomber...
Meta faces EU antitrust action over AI exclusivity on WhatsApp
Invezz
Invezz
European Union competition regulators have taken formal action against Meta Platforms over changes to how artificial intelligence operates on WhatsApp, raising concerns about restricted access for rival AI providers. The move signals growing regulatory pressure on large tech firms as AI tools become...
EU threatens to act over Meta blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp
The Guardian
The Guardian
Firm accused of ‘abusing' its dominant position for messaging in what appears to be breach of antitrust rules
EU warns Meta it must open up WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
TechXplore
TechXplore
The EU executive on Monday told Meta to give rival chatbots access to WhatsApp after an antitrust probe found the US giant to be in breach of the bloc's competition rules.
EU Tells Meta to Allow Room for Rival AI Assistants
PYMNTS
PYMNTS
European competition regulators say Meta's artificial intelligence (AI) assistant policy violates antitrust regulations. The European Commission (EC) announced Monday (Feb. 9) that it sent a statement of objections to the tech giant, stating the watchdog's “preliminary view” that Meta breached EU an...
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