EU bars Meta's paid WhatsApp AI gate
The EU has told Meta it cannot charge third parties to offer AI services through WhatsApp and insists external AI chatbots must be allowed on the platform at no cost. The decision is part of a broader push by Brussels to protect interoperability and limit platform tolling for data‑driven AI services. (cybernews.com)
European Union regulators told Meta on April 15 that it cannot make rival artificial intelligence assistants pay to reach WhatsApp users. (europa.eu) The European Commission sent Meta a supplementary statement of objections saying third-party AI assistants must get WhatsApp access on the same terms that existed before Meta’s October 15, 2025 policy change. Meta’s March 4, 2026 revision, which replaced the ban with a fee, “is in effect equivalent to the previous access ban,” the Commission said. (europa.eu) Brussels is using an interim-measures process, a fast antitrust tool meant to stop harm before a full case ends. The Commission said the temporary order would stay in place until it finishes its broader abuse-of-dominance investigation into Meta’s conduct on WhatsApp. (europa.eu) The dispute started with Meta’s WhatsApp Business terms update on October 15, 2025. The Commission said that update effectively banned third-party general-purpose AI assistants from the app starting January 15, 2026, then opened formal proceedings on December 4, 2025 and sent its first objections on February 9, 2026. (europa.eu) At the center of the case is control over distribution. WhatsApp is one of the biggest messaging apps in Europe, and the Commission said Meta’s policy risks blocking competitors from entering or expanding in the fast-growing market for AI assistants. (europa.eu; politico.eu) The fight also sits inside the European Union’s wider campaign to force large platforms to interoperate instead of locking users into one company’s network. In November 2025, Meta itself said the Digital Markets Act required WhatsApp in Europe to let users connect with third-party messaging services, with BirdyChat and Haiket named as the first partners. (about.fb.com) This case is narrower than that messaging rule. It is about whether outside AI assistants can talk to users inside WhatsApp without Meta turning access into a toll gate. (europa.eu; techcrunch.com) Meta says it is trying to protect users and keep terms consistent across services. In response to the Commission’s move, the company pointed to OpenAI’s distribution of ChatGPT through Apple’s Siri and said rivals should not get broader access to WhatsApp than Meta gets on other platforms, according to Reuters and Politico. (globalbankingandfinance.com; politico.eu) The Commission also widened the case’s geographic scope on April 15. Because it is now working with Italy’s competition authority, the investigation will cover the full European Economic Area instead of excluding Italy. (europa.eu) Meta can still answer the new objections before any interim order is finalized. But for now, Brussels has made its position plain: opening WhatsApp to outside AI assistants only counts if the door is open without a fee. (europa.eu; france24.com)
