Overview
- The European Commission formally pressed Meta on February 10 to allow third‑party AI chatbots inside WhatsApp or face interim measures and fines.
- Officials cite Meta’s October 2025 terms that bar AI‑focused firms from using WhatsApp Business features, warning of severe and irreparable harm to competition.
- WhatsApp now offers a built‑in, paid AI assistant for companies to handle support and sales, creating a potentially lucrative advantage for Meta within the app.
- Meta disputes the case and says WhatsApp is not a key distribution channel for chatbots, pointing to app stores and operating systems as viable alternatives.
- Several external bots, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, have been unavailable on WhatsApp since January 15, according to current reports, as the probe continues.