The European Union has threatened Meta Platforms to stop blocking AI rivals on WhatsApp while it investigates alleged abuse of dominance. The European Commission sent a statement of objections to Meta, signaling possible interim measures. Regulators said these measures would prevent serious harm to competitors during the investigation.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said dominant tech companies cannot illegally leverage their position to gain unfair advantage. She added that interim measures may quickly preserve competitor access to WhatsApp and prevent Meta’s new policy from harming competition irreparably.
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Meta has allowed only its Meta AI assistant on WhatsApp since January 15, effectively blocking rival AI chatbots. The company argued the EU’s claims are flawed, saying users can access AI from app stores, devices, websites, and partnerships, and the WhatsApp Business API is not essential for distribution.
The Commission will decide on interim measures after reviewing Meta’s response and ensuring the company’s right to defend itself. Italy’s competition watchdog took similar action last December, highlighting growing European scrutiny of big tech.
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The investigation reflects the EU’s determination to enforce antitrust rules, despite criticism from the U.S. and other countries. Similar moves abroad include Brazil, where a court recently suspended an interim measure against Meta on this issue.