Meta is attempting to block a potential European Union order that would require it to grant competing AI chatbot providers access to WhatsApp, as the company defended its position at a hearing with EU antitrust officials in Brussels.(Reuters)
The dispute forms part of the European Commission’s ongoing investigation into whether Meta is abusing its market power in AI-enabled messaging services. Regulators are considering interim measures that could compel the company to open WhatsApp to rival AI assistants while the broader antitrust probe continues. A final decision on whether to impose such an order is expected in the coming months.
The case centers on Meta’s January policy restricting AI chatbot functionality on WhatsApp to its own Meta AI assistant. Although Meta later revised the policy in March to permit third-party AI providers to access WhatsApp, competitors would be required to pay for that access through the platform’s business messaging product.
That revised approach failed to satisfy EU regulators, who issued an additional statement of objections last month setting out their concerns over Meta’s proposed terms. The Commission had already warned in February that temporary measures might be necessary to prevent Meta from excluding AI rivals during the investigation.
At the hearing, Meta argued that the Commission’s approach would unfairly force the company to provide commercial access to large AI firms without compensation. A Meta spokesperson said the regulator was effectively attempting to let major technology companies use WhatsApp’s paid business infrastructure for free, adding that smaller businesses paying for the service should not subsidize larger AI developers.
Rival AI companies and complainants in the case strongly disagree. The Interaction Company of California, developer of the Poke.com AI assistant, accused Meta of seeking to monopolize AI services on WhatsApp by favoring its own products while restricting competitors. The company urged the Commission to adopt interim measures swiftly, arguing they are necessary to preserve competition in the emerging market for AI-powered messaging assistants.
Other interested parties participating in the hearing reportedly included OpenAI and French AI startup Simone, highlighting the broader significance of the dispute for AI developers seeking access to major digital platforms.
