Overview
- EU regulators formally opened an investigation into whether Meta’s integration of Meta AI in WhatsApp, rolled out across Europe since March 2025, infringes competition rules by foreclosing rivals.
- Officials cite an October policy change that would bar outside AI providers from using WhatsApp Business tools to reach customers, while Meta’s own Meta AI would remain accessible.
- The probe covers the European Economic Area except Italy, which is running a separate case that expanded in November to examine alleged blocking of rival chatbots.
- The Commission is using traditional antitrust law rather than the Digital Markets Act, with competition chief Teresa Ribera signaling concern about dominant platforms excluding innovators.
- Meta and WhatsApp call the claims baseless and say a surge of AI chatbots strains systems not designed for them.