Overview
- The European Commission launched a formal investigation into whether a recent WhatsApp policy limits access for third‑party AI providers, potentially favoring Meta’s own assistant.
- Regulators said the policy change could bar rival AI assistants from operating on WhatsApp while Meta’s chatbot remains available to users.
- Teresa Ribera, who oversees competition policy, signaled the Commission may act quickly if it sees a risk of irreparable harm to competition in AI services.
- The EU probe covers all member states except Italy, where national authorities have already opened a separate investigation into Meta’s chatbot practices.
- Meta integrated its Meta AI assistant into WhatsApp across EU markets in March, and the company did not respond to requests for comment as the probe was announced.