EU orders Meta to restore free access for rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp

The European Commission has issued an interim order requiring Meta to allow third-party AI chatbots to access the WhatsApp for Business API for free, citing potential antitrust violations. The directive mandates that Meta restore its terms and conditions to the state they were in before October 2025, when the company implemented a policy banning rival AI assistants from the platform. This measure is part of an ongoing investigation into whether Meta abused its dominant market position in the European messaging app sector.

EU competition chief Teresa Ribera indicated to journalists that the interim measures are necessary to prevent permanent harm to the market while the investigation proceeds. Ribera noted that Meta’s revised policy from early March, which permitted third-party access for a fee, was deemed insufficient and not preferable to the previous outright ban. She stated that the fee Meta was charging for access was considered too high, reinforcing the Commission’s view that competition in rapidly evolving markets can be lost long before a final decision is adopted.

Meta introduced the restrictive policy in October 2025, effectively making Meta AI the only chatbot capable of accessing the WhatsApp for Business API. Prior to this change, companies were able to send notifications, such as order alerts, through WhatsApp using other AI assistants. The Commission opened an antitrust investigation into the new policy in December 2025, noting that Meta has held a dominant position in the European messaging app market since at least 2023.

In response to the ruling, Meta has announced it will appeal the decision, arguing that the order constitutes regulatory overreach. A Meta spokesperson rejected the case as baseless, contending that the directive effectively subsidises large companies, such as OpenAI, at the expense of other European businesses that currently pay for the WhatsApp Business product. The company maintains that the EU’s approach unfairly grants some of the world’s largest firms access to the API without charge.

Under the interim measure, Meta must comply with the order by June 15 or face potential fines of up to 5% of its average daily worldwide turnover. The directive will remain in place until the Commission concludes its investigation into the company’s conduct. While the exact financial impact of potential penalties remains unclear, the outcome of Meta’s appeal against the interim measure is currently unknown, leaving the final determination of any competition rule violations pending.