EU wants Meta to open up access to rival AI chatbots through WhatsApp
The European Union threatened Meta with “interim measures” if it continues to block rival AI assistants from operating on WhatsApp, escalating regulatory pressure on the company’s strategy in Europe. Meta said there was “no reason for the EU to intervene in the WhatsApp Business API,” arguing that its policy does not stifle competition because WhatsApp is not a “key distribution channel” for chatbots.
The dispute comes as Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on US technology companies by fostering homegrown alternatives. Europe accounted for roughly a quarter of Meta’s total advertising revenue last quarter, underscoring the region’s importance to the company’s business.
The case could test how far EU regulators are willing to go to prevent Big Tech firms from favoring their own AI tools inside widely used platforms — a stance that could ultimately reshape how AI services are distributed and monetized across Europe.
The dispute comes as Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on US technology companies by fostering homegrown alternatives. Europe accounted for roughly a quarter of Meta’s total advertising revenue last quarter, underscoring the region’s importance to the company’s business.
The case could test how far EU regulators are willing to go to prevent Big Tech firms from favoring their own AI tools inside widely used platforms — a stance that could ultimately reshape how AI services are distributed and monetized across Europe.
