EU launches probe into Meta after policy shift blocks competing AI chatbots on WhatsApp

EU Investigates Meta Over WhatsApp AI Chatbot Policy

The European Commission has announced an antitrust probe into Meta’s recent decision to restrict WhatsApp users to only its own AI assistant, Meta AI. This investigation centers on Meta’s move to block other AI companies from utilizing WhatsApp’s business tools to provide their chatbots within the app.

In October, WhatsApp updated its business API policy, stating that the API was not intended as a platform for distributing general-purpose chatbots. This change, set to take effect in January, will prevent AI chatbots from companies such as OpenAI, Perplexity, and Poke from being available on WhatsApp.

It’s important to note that this restriction does not apply to businesses using AI-driven bots for customer support on WhatsApp. For example, retailers employing AI to assist customers can continue to use the API. The ban specifically targets general AI chatbots like ChatGPT from being distributed through WhatsApp’s business tools.

The European Commission expressed concern that this policy could “stop third-party AI providers from offering their services via WhatsApp within the European Economic Area (EEA).”

According to the Commission, “With the new policy, rival AI providers may lose access to WhatsApp’s user base, while Meta’s own AI assistant remains available on the platform.”

Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s executive vice-president for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, commented, “AI is rapidly expanding across Europe and globally. It’s crucial that both citizens and businesses in Europe can fully benefit from these advancements, and that we prevent dominant tech firms from stifling innovative competition.”

Ribera added, “That’s why we are examining whether Meta’s updated policy violates competition law, and whether urgent action is needed to avoid lasting harm to competition in the AI sector.”

If Meta is found to have breached EU antitrust regulations, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its worldwide annual revenue, along with further corrective measures imposed by the Commission.

In response, WhatsApp dismissed the EU’s concerns as “unfounded,” emphasizing that users still have a variety of ways to access chatbots from competing AI companies.

A WhatsApp spokesperson explained, “Allowing AI chatbots on our Business API puts a burden on our infrastructure, which was never designed for this purpose. Nevertheless, the AI market remains highly competitive, and people can choose from many services through app stores, search engines, email, partnerships, and operating systems.”