The European Commission has intensified its investigation into Meta by issuing a supplementary charge sheet outlining potential interim measures aimed at restoring access for competing AI assistants on WhatsApp. The move reflects growing concerns that Meta may have abused its dominant position by restricting competition in the emerging market for AI-powered assistants.
The latest step follows earlier findings in which the Commission expressed preliminary concerns that Meta had effectively excluded third-party AI assistants from interacting with users on WhatsApp. Although Meta subsequently revised its policy and formally reintroduced access, it did so under a new pricing structure. Regulators now suspect that this change may have little practical effect on competition.
“Replacing the legal ban with pricing that has a similar effect does not change our preliminary view,” said Teresa Ribera, adding that the conduct “appears to be an abuse of its dominant position” and risks seriously harming competition in a fast-evolving sector.
The Commission’s concern is that imposing fees on third-party AI providers could replicate the exclusionary impact of the earlier outright ban. In its assessment so far, such conditions may deter or prevent rivals from entering or expanding within the WhatsApp ecosystem, thereby limiting innovation and consumer choice at a critical stage of market development.
To address these risks, the Commission is preparing to impose interim measures that would require Meta to restore access for competing AI assistants under the same conditions that existed prior to the policy changes introduced in October 2025. These temporary measures would remain in force until the investigation concludes and a final decision is adopted.
“Pushing out competitors in fast-evolving markets like AI is exactly the type of conduct that interim measures are designed to address,” Ribera noted, underlining the urgency of intervention where there is a risk of “serious and irreparable harm” to competition.
In parallel, the Commission has expanded the geographic scope of its investigation to cover the entire European Economic Area, following coordination with national authorities. This ensures that the case will address potential competitive effects across all relevant markets within the region.
The proceedings remain ongoing, and Meta has been given the opportunity to respond to the Commission’s concerns. While the issuance of a supplementary statement does not prejudge the final outcome, it signals that regulators are prepared to act swiftly to preserve competition in the rapidly developing AI ecosystem
