EU Presses Meta to Open WhatsApp to Rival AI Chatbots Amid Competition Concerns

The European Union has stepped up regulatory pressure on Meta Platforms, warning the tech giant that it must allow rival artificial intelligence chatbots access to WhatsApp or face possible intervention. The move reflects growing concern among European regulators that Meta may be using its dominance in messaging services to unfairly promote its own AI products while sidelining competitors.

At the centre of the dispute is Meta’s recent decision to prioritise its in-house Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp, limiting the ability of third-party AI services to operate on the platform. EU officials argue that WhatsApp’s vast user base gives Meta significant market power and that restricting access for competing AI tools could distort competition in the rapidly expanding AI chatbot market.

According to the European Commission, Meta’s approach risks causing long-term damage by preventing rival developers from reaching users at a critical stage in the evolution of consumer AI services. Regulators believe this could entrench Meta’s position early on, making it harder for alternative AI chatbots to gain traction even if they offer innovative or superior features.

The Commission has formally communicated its concerns to Meta, signalling that it may impose interim measures if the company does not address the issue. Such measures could require Meta to temporarily reopen WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots while a broader antitrust investigation continues. Interim steps are typically reserved for cases where regulators fear immediate and irreversible harm to competition.

Meta has pushed back against the EU’s stance, arguing that it is not blocking competition and that users can easily access a wide range of AI services through other channels such as standalone apps, websites and operating systems. The company has also maintained that WhatsApp was not designed to function as an open marketplace for general-purpose AI assistants and that its integration of Meta AI is intended to improve user experience.

The warning to Meta comes amid wider efforts by European authorities to rein in the power of large technology companies under stricter competition rules. Regulators across the bloc have increasingly focused on how dominant digital platforms introduce new AI features, particularly when those platforms already serve as essential gateways for users and businesses.