BRUSSELS, March 5, 2026, 22:44 CET
- Meta plans to open up WhatsApp to competing AI chatbots in Europe, offering 12 months of access—if rivals are willing to pay for it.
- The step comes after EU officials warned they could impose interim measures during the ongoing antitrust investigation.
- One complainant argues Meta’s proposed terms continue to leave competitors on unequal footing.
Meta Platforms plans to open WhatsApp in Europe to competing AI chatbots for the coming 12 months, following a warning from EU antitrust regulators who indicated possible intervention after allegations the company excluded rivals.
The European Commission is considering interim measures—a stopgap step intended to head off major damage as its antitrust probe unfolds—in a dispute that’s turning into a key test of Brussels’ willingness to act quickly in AI. “We must protect effective competition in this vibrant field,” EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said last month. 1
Timing is critical here. AI assistants are racing into consumer apps, and gaining entry to a big messaging platform could shift the balance well ahead of any final ruling. For smaller chatbot companies, distribution isn’t just part of the deal—it’s frequently the whole game.
Meta has told the Commission it plans to let “general-purpose” chatbot firms in Europe access the WhatsApp Business API for a year, with a fee attached. “We’ll support general-purpose AI chatbots on WhatsApp Business API in Europe,” a Meta spokesperson said, calling the move enough to avoid immediate action. Interaction Company CEO Marvin von Hagen, a rival complainant, was blunt: “The so-called Italian solution is thus no solution at all.” 2
On Jan. 15, Meta shut out third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp, restricting chatbot access to only its own Meta AI. The WhatsApp Business API—the platform businesses and developers rely on to integrate automated chat services—remains the connection point for these tools.
The Commission is now determining if Meta’s move affects how it views both interim measures and the broader probe. Meta, for its part, maintains that a spike in chatbot use could stress its infrastructure, and points out competitors still have access to users via app stores, search engines, or even email.
Italy’s antitrust regulator had already told Meta to provide access sooner—a probe there is still underway. The company said its new policy would extend to Brazil, following a court decision on Wednesday that restored an injunction requested by the Brazilian antitrust body.
AI startups see more than just a technical hurdle here. The real question is whether WhatsApp’s business features serve as a ready-made pipeline to users — and if Meta gets to dictate the rules while promoting Meta AI throughout its own platforms.
The fee—and whatever strings are attached to access—might be the next battleground. Should competitors claim they still can’t make WhatsApp work on fair terms, regulators could force stricter rules. Meta then risks a drawn-out investigation, and possibly fines or tougher curbs.
Meta slid roughly 1% in late U.S. action.
Meta’s content oversight problems are mounting. Indonesia’s communications ministry has issued a “stern warning” about online gambling and disinformation on the platform. Minister Meutya Hafid warned, “Disinformation, defamation and hate content threaten lives in Indonesia.” Meta hasn’t yet responded to requests for comment. 3
