To determine whether Meta’s new restriction on artificial intelligence (AI) suppliers’ access to WhatsApp may violate EU competition laws, the European Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation.
In October 2025, Meta announced a new policy that forbids AI providers from utilising the “WhatsApp Business Solution,” a platform that enables businesses to engage with consumers over WhatsApp, when AI is the main service provided.
AI tools can still be used by businesses for auxiliary or support tasks, as the automated customer service provided by WhatsApp.
The Commission is worried that this new regulation would make it impossible for third-party AI companies to use WhatsApp in the European Economic Area (EEA).
Meta is a US-based technology business that offers a variety of social networking and online communication services.
One of its primary offerings is WhatsApp, a messaging app that lets users send and receive text messages, audio notes, images, videos, documents, and voice and video chats.
Businesses can use WhatsApp to interact with their clients.
In fact, a number of AI companies give users access to their AI assistants via WhatsApp, allowing them to communicate with conversational AI right within the app for things like creating content, responding to enquiries, and contacting customer service.
The Commission is aware that Meta will alter WhatsApp’s “WhatsApp Business Application Programming Interface terms” for business customers in order to implement the new policy.
The update will take effect for AI providers who are already on WhatsApp on January 15, 2026, while it has been in effect for AI providers who are new to WhatsApp since October 15, 2025.
The new policy may prevent rival AI services from connecting with their clients over WhatsApp.
However, customers of the platform would still be able to utilise Meta’s own AI service, “Meta AI.”
Except for Italy, the EEA will be covered by the formal probe.
This is to prevent a conflict with the ongoing legal actions of the Italian Competition Authority regarding the potential imposition of temporary sanctions related to Meta’s behaviour.
Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 54 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, which forbid the abuse of a dominating position, may be violated by the practices under examination if they are established.
After launching a consultation in January 2024 and publishing a policy paper on September 19, 2024, the Commission is continuing to monitor the AI markets in the EEA, and this study is part of that effort.
The Commission will now make it a top priority to conduct its thorough enquiry. A formal investigation’s opening does not guarantee its outcome.
