The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for rival general-purpose AI assistants and to keep that access available for the duration of the Commission’s antitrust investigation. The Commission says the interim steps are intended to prevent “serious and irreparable damage to competition” in the market for AI assistant services. According to the Commission, Meta’s conduct appears, at first sight, to infringe EU competition rules.
The order requires Meta to take action within a specified deadline, reported as five working days, and the restored access must be maintained until the Commission concludes its investigation. The measures are framed as temporary while the Commission examines the underlying competition concerns.
Meta has stated that it will appeal the decision. The dispute centers on whether rival AI assistants are able to access WhatsApp without pay or restrictions, and how Meta’s policies could affect competition as AI assistant offerings expand.
