The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Meta’s recently announced policy restricting access to its WhatsApp Business Solution for Artificial Intelligence providers. The inquiry, initiated Thursday, probes whether the new guidelines constitute a breach of EU competition law, raising significant concerns about the potential stifling of innovation within the burgeoning European AI sector.
The policy, revealed in October 2025, effectively bars AI companies whose primary service is AI provision from utilizing WhatsApp Business Solution. While companies can retain AI tools for supportive functions like automated customer service, the restriction on core AI offerings has triggered scrutiny from Brussels. The Commission fears the policy creates an artificial barrier, impeding access for third-party AI providers to customers within the European Economic Area (EEA).
The investigation’s scope encompasses the entire EEA, deliberately excluding Italy to avoid duplication with an ongoing procedure already underway by the Italian competition authority. Should the investigation find that Meta’s practices are in violation of EU competition regulations, it could be deemed an abuse of a dominant market position, carrying the potential for substantial penalties and mandated changes to Meta’s operational strategies.
EU Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera articulated the gravity of the situation, stating, “The AI markets are booming in Europe and beyond. We must ensure that European citizens and businesses can fully benefit from this technological revolution and take action to prevent dominant digital companies from abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors”. Ribera’s remarks underscore a growing political pressure on large tech firms to avoid leveraging their market dominance to disadvantage emerging technologies and smaller businesses.
The move highlights a broader trend of increased regulatory attention focused on the power and influence of tech giants operating within the European Union. This investigation into Meta’s WhatsApp policies signals a commitment from the Commission to actively safeguard fair competition and foster a dynamic AI ecosystem, even if it necessitates challenging the practices of influential international corporations. The outcome will have significant ramifications for the future of AI integration within Europe’s communication platforms and the regulatory landscape surrounding digital markets.