The European Commission has formally warned Meta that it may have breached EU competition rules by blocking third-party artificial intelligence
assistants from operating on WhatsApp, a move regulators fear could seriously harm competition in the fast-growing AI market.
In a Statement of Objections sent to the US tech giant, the Commission said it holds a preliminary view that Meta unlawfully leveraged WhatsApp’s market power to favour its own AI tool, Meta AI, while shutting out rival services. Brussels is now considering imposing interim measures that could force Meta to reverse the policy while the investigation continues.
According to the Commission, Meta’s actions risk preventing competitors from entering or expanding in the European market for general-purpose AI assistants — a sector seen as strategically important and rapidly evolving.
WhatsApp as a key gateway to consumers
Meta operates some of the world’s largest digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, alongside online advertising and virtual and augmented reality products. In recent years, the company has also rolled out its own AI assistant, Meta AI.
The dispute centres on a change Meta announced on 15 October 2025 to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms. Under the updated rules, third-party general-purpose AI assistants were effectively banned from accessing and interacting with WhatsApp users.
Since 15 January 2026, Meta AI has been the only AI assistant permitted on the platform, excluding all competing services.
EU competition officials argue that this shift may constitute an abuse of dominance. In their preliminary assessment, WhatsApp is considered a crucial gateway for AI assistants to reach consumers, giving Meta significant control over market access.
Commission flags risk of “serious and irreparable harm”
The Commission’s investigation has, at this stage, reached several provisional conclusions. It believes Meta is likely dominant in the European Economic Area (EEA) market for consumer communication apps, largely due to WhatsApp’s scale and reach.
By denying access to competing AI assistants, Meta may be abusing that dominant position, regulators say. The Commission also warned that the policy change could raise barriers to entry, stifle innovation and permanently marginalise smaller AI developers before the case reaches a final decision.
Because of these risks, Brussels says there is an urgent need for protective measures to prevent serious and irreparable damage to competition. Any interim measures would apply while the investigation continues and would not prejudge the final outcome.
Meta now has the right to examine the Commission’s evidence, submit a written response and request an oral hearing as part of its defence.
Scope of the case and legal background
The Statement of Objections covers the entire EEA except Italy, where the Italian Competition Authority imposed its own interim measures on Meta in December 2025.
The Commission formally opened proceedings on 4 December 2025 under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement. These provisions prohibit companies from abusing a dominant market position in ways that restrict competition or affect trade within the Single Market.
Under EU competition law, interim measures can be imposed when there is a prima facie infringement and an urgent risk of serious and irreparable harm. If, after hearing Meta’s defence, the Commission finds these conditions are met, it can order temporary remedies — without prejudging its final decision on whether Meta ultimately broke the law.
The case is being closely watched across Europe’s tech and AI sectors, as it could set an important precedent for how dominant digital platforms are allowed to integrate and promote their own AI services. Photo by Nokia621, Wikimedia commons.