Overview
- The European Commission imposed provisional measures in June 2026 that force Meta to restore third‑party AI access to WhatsApp while it continues a formal antitrust investigation into whether Meta unlawfully blocked rivals.
- OpenAI said Tuesday that ChatGPT is again usable inside WhatsApp by saving the contact +1‑800‑242‑8478, allowing text, image and voice exchanges and optional account linking for higher usage limits.
- The EU order is temporary but enforceable, with potential fines for non‑compliance of up to 10 percent of global annual turnover to ensure Meta follows the directive during the probe.
- OpenAI warns that conversations with ChatGPT on WhatsApp are stored and linked to users’ phone numbers and may be reviewed briefly for abuse prevention, raising clear privacy trade‑offs for users.
- Meta has criticized the decision and plans to challenge it in court, and the move could force platforms and AI providers to manage new technical integrations, data controls and regulatory checks across the EU.