The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms’ policy that blocks third‑party artificial‑intelligence providers from using the WhatsApp Business Solution when AI is the primary service offered. The policy, announced in October 2025, prohibits new AI providers from accessing the Business API from October 15, 2025, and will extend to existing providers as of January 15, 2026. Meta’s own AI chatbot, Meta AI, remains available to users, creating a clear distinction between the company’s own offering and external competitors.
Meta argues that the WhatsApp Business API is designed to support customer‑support interactions and that the surge in general‑purpose chatbot traffic has strained the platform’s infrastructure. The company has also highlighted that such chatbots do not generate revenue through the pay‑per‑message model that underpins the API’s business case. A WhatsApp spokesperson dismissed the investigation’s claims as “baseless,” noting that the AI traffic “has put a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support.”
The investigation focuses on whether the policy unfairly restricts competition in the European Economic Area, excluding Italy where a separate competition authority is already reviewing Meta’s AI integration. If the Commission finds a violation, Meta could face fines of up to 10 % of its global annual revenue and may be required to alter its AI strategy on WhatsApp, potentially opening the platform to rival chatbots and affecting Meta’s broader messaging and AI business in Europe.
Market reaction to the announcement was muted. Meta’s shares rose 0.4 % ahead of the opening bell on December 4, reflecting investors’ view that EU antitrust probes are typically protracted and that any fines would be a small fraction of the company’s earnings. Analysts noted that the regulatory risk is manageable given Meta’s strong financial position and the limited impact of a potential fine relative to its quarterly earnings.
The probe underscores the EU’s growing focus on competition within the AI sector and signals that dominant platforms may face scrutiny when they use their ecosystems to favor in‑house solutions over third‑party alternatives. Meta’s stance remains that the policy protects its revenue stream and system stability, while the Commission seeks to ensure a level playing field for emerging AI competitors.
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