EU Orders Meta to Open WhatsApp to Rival AI Chatbots, Citing User Choice Concerns

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• EU Says Meta Can’t Lock Rivals Out of WhatsApp AI Market
• Meta Ordered to Restore AI Competition on WhatsApp Amid Antitrust Probe
• Big Win for ChatGPT? EU Forces Meta to Open WhatsApp to Rival AI Assistants
• EU Takes Aim at Meta AI Dominance With New WhatsApp Order

The European Union has ordered Meta to restore access to WhatsApp for competing AI chatbots, arguing that users should be free to choose which artificial intelligence assistant they want to use instead of being limited to Meta AI. The move marks a major escalation in the growing battle over competition in the rapidly expanding AI industry.

European regulators issued the directive while an ongoing antitrust investigation examines whether Meta unfairly used its dominance in messaging to give its own AI assistant an advantage over rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other emerging AI services. Regulators believe WhatsApp has become a critical gateway through which millions of people may access AI assistants in the future.

Why the EU Is Taking Action

The dispute began after Meta changed its WhatsApp policies in late 2025, effectively preventing many third-party AI assistants from operating on the platform. Under the new rules, Meta AI remained the primary AI assistant available to WhatsApp users, raising concerns among regulators that the company was restricting competition.

In December 2025, the European Commission launched a formal investigation into whether the policy changes violated EU competition laws. Regulators argued that limiting access could harm innovation and reduce consumer choice in one of the fastest-growing technology markets.

Meta Must Restore Access

As part of its interim ruling, the European Commission has ordered Meta to restore access for rival AI assistants under the same conditions that existed before the October 2025 policy changes. The order is designed to preserve competition while the broader antitrust investigation continues.

EU Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera said the decision is intended to protect innovation and ensure consumers retain the freedom to choose which AI assistant they prefer to use on WhatsApp. Regulators argue that without intervention, smaller AI companies could be pushed out of the market before the investigation is completed.

Meta Plans to Fight Back

Meta has strongly criticized the ruling and announced plans to appeal. The company argues that the decision unfairly benefits large AI competitors by granting them access to WhatsApp’s infrastructure without paying the fees Meta believes are necessary to support the service.

Earlier this year, Meta attempted to address regulatory concerns by proposing a paid-access model for third-party AI assistants. However, European regulators rejected the proposal, saying the fees were so high that they effectively acted as a barrier to competition.

What Happens Next?

The antitrust investigation remains ongoing, and no final decision has yet been reached. However, the interim order will remain in force while regulators continue examining Meta’s conduct. If Meta is ultimately found to have violated EU competition rules, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.

The case is being closely watched across the technology industry because it could shape how AI assistants are distributed on major digital platforms. Regulators increasingly view messaging apps such as WhatsApp as key gateways to AI services, making control over those platforms a major competitive advantage.

For users, the ruling could mean greater freedom to access AI tools beyond Meta AI directly within WhatsApp, potentially opening the door to a wider range of assistants competing for attention inside one of the world’s most popular messaging apps.