EU Orders Meta to Stop Blocking AI Chatbots on WhatsApp

The European Union’s competition authorities on June 10, 2026, ordered Meta to immediately stop blocking rival AI chatbots on its messaging app WhatsApp. The interim measure announced by the European Commission targets a policy change introduced by Meta in October 2025. That change removed third-party AI assistants using the WhatsApp for Business API, leaving only Meta’s own “Meta AI” with access to the service.

The EU determined that this conduct might violate antitrust law and launched a formal investigation in December 2025. During that process, it exercised its authority to demand interim corrective measures from Meta.

Background

In October 2025, Meta revised the terms of service for the WhatsApp for Business API, prohibiting third-party AI chatbots from sending messages through the API. Previously, businesses could send operational communications such as order notifications via non-Meta AI assistants on WhatsApp.

This change was seen as giving Meta’s own AI assistant, “Meta AI,” a monopoly on the platform, drawing criticism from competitors and regulators. The European Commission began an antitrust investigation in December 2025 and sent Meta a preliminary warning in March 2026 to take corrective action.

In response, Meta introduced a system in early March allowing third-party AI assistants paid access to the WhatsApp API. However, the European Commission assessed this paid-access plan as “an improvement over a total ban, but insufficient to dispel competition concerns.” In particular, the high access fees set by Meta were deemed problematic. EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera told the Wall Street Journal that Meta’s requested fees were “too high.”

EU’s Rationale

According to the European Commission, Meta has held a dominant position in the European messaging app market since at least 2023. The Commission concluded that Meta likely abused its dominant position through the October 2025 policy change by eliminating rival AI assistants.

“In a rapidly evolving market, it is not uncommon for competition to be lost before a final decision is made,” Commissioner Ribera stated. She emphasized the need for an interim measure to prevent irreversible harm to the market during the prolonged investigation.

The interim measure requires Meta to revert to the terms of service in effect before the October 2025 policy change and allow third-party AI assistants free access to the WhatsApp for Business API. This measure will remain in effect until the European Commission completes its investigation.

Meta’s Reaction and Outlook

Meta immediately pushed back, telling the Wall Street Journal that it intends to appeal. The company argues that “the EU order is regulatory overreach that would grant free access to the WhatsApp for Business API to a few of the world’s largest companies.” It portrays the paid-access plan as a legitimate business model and claims the measure will stifle innovation.

This case highlights the EU’s strict regulatory stance toward digital platforms. WhatsApp is a major messaging service in Europe with hundreds of millions of monthly users, and the competitive environment for AI chatbots on the platform could affect the broader balance of the digital market.

The EU’s investigation is ongoing and could take several years to reach a final decision. In the meantime, the interim measure is in effect, meaning free access for third-party AI chatbots will be maintained unless Meta’s appeal succeeds.

Editorial Perspective

In the short term, this interim measure is expected to rekindle AI chatbot competition on WhatsApp. For vendors focusing on customer support and marketing automation for small businesses, the removal of Meta’s monopoly will open new business opportunities. However, legal uncertainty remains as Meta pursues its appeal.

From a long-term perspective, this decision could set a new precedent for platform regulation, following the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The relationship between AI assistants and messaging platforms presents a key issue of balancing data access and pro-competitive policy. Similar regulations may extend to other platforms, such as Apple’s iMessage.

From an editorial standpoint, the EU’s judgment that Meta’s paid-access plan was “too expensive” raises a fundamental question: Where should fair pricing standards be set for platform operators? The tension between technological monopolies and competition policy directly relates to infrastructure development in the AI era, and the industry as a whole needs to deepen the debate. We will closely watch the EU’s final decision.

References

• EU orders Meta to stop blocking rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp - Engadget — Published June 10, 2026
• European Commission Directorate-General for Competition (related announcements, investigation ongoing)