⚖️ EU demands Meta open WhatsApp to competing AI services
Oneliner
The European Commission has threatened Meta with interim measures unless it allows competing AI services access to WhatsApp. This follows a policy change on January 15, 2026, that restricted AI access to Meta's own assistant. The Commission's investigation, initiated in December 2025, suggests that Meta's actions may violate EU antitrust rules. Meta has the opportunity to respond to the allegations before any measures are imposed, with significant implications for competition in the AI market.
Key points
- The European Commission threatens interim measures against Meta for blocking rival AI access on WhatsApp.
- Meta's policy change on January 15, 2026, restricted AI access to its own assistant, Meta AI.
- The Commission's investigation began in December 2025, focusing on potential antitrust violations.
- Meta has the opportunity to respond before any measures are imposed.
Links
- Reuters: EU threatens Meta with interim measure for blocking AI rivals from WhatsApp
- Handelsblatt: Facebook-Konzern: KI bei Whatsapp - EU droht Meta mit Zwangsmaßnahmen
- efe.com: Bruselas amenaza a Meta con medidas si impide la competencia en la IA de WhatsApp
- Politico: EU tells Meta it has to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
- BFMTV: L'UE somme Meta d'ouvrir WhatsApp aux services d'IA concurrents pour éviter un "risque de préjudice grave et irréparable porté à la concurrence"
- la Repubblica: La Ue accusa Meta: “Violate le norme Antitrust su assistenti IA”
- Le Figaro: Meta doit ouvrir sa messagerie WhatsApp aux services d'IA concurrents, met en garde l’Union européenne
- La Libre: Meta sous pression : l’Union européenne exige l’ouverture de WhatsApp aux IA concurrentes
- elDiario: Bruselas acusa a Meta de infringir las normas antimonopolio por vetar la IA de terceros en Whataspp
- 20minutos: Bruselas avisa a Meta con medidas en su contra por monopolizar el sistema de IA de Whatsapp
- Handelsblatt: Technologie: EU-Kommission mahnt Meta wegen KI-Diensten auf WhatsApp ab
- ABC: Europa amenaza a WhatsApp con "medidas provisionales" por bloquear la IA de la competencia
- ANSA: Benifei (Pd), 'bene le misure provvisorie Ue contro Meta' - La voce degli Eurodeputati - Ansa.it
- Les Echos: Bruxelles somme Meta de rouvrir WhatsApp aux concurrents IA
- Die Welt: KI bei WhatsApp - EU droht Meta mit Zwangsmaßnahmen - WELT
- Tagesschau (ARD): EU-Kommission: Meta muss andere Chatbots auf WhatsApp zulassen
- Cadena SER: Bruselas acusa a WhatsApp de infringir las normas antimonopolio por impedir el acceso de la IA de la competencia
- RTBF: La Commission menace d'imposer à Meta d'ouvrir WhatsApp aux autres assistants IA - RTBF Actus
- The Guardian: EU threatens to act over Meta blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp
- France 24: L'UE prévient Meta qu'il doit ouvrir WhatsApp aux services d'IA concurrents
- France 24: La UE exige a Meta que permita a la IA de sus competidores acceder a WhatsApp
Facts
- Meta's policy change on January 15, 2026, restricted AI access to its own assistant, Meta AI.
- The European Commission opened an investigation into Meta in December 2025.
- Teresa Ribera is the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for competition.
- The Commission's actions could impact smaller AI companies relying on WhatsApp for consumer access.
Quotes
- We cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally exploit their market power to gain an unfair advantage. — Teresa Ribera
- The facts show there is no reason for the EU to intervene in the WhatsApp Business APIs. — Meta spokesperson
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