WhatsApp AI Access Order Forces Meta to Open Platform to Rivals
The European Commission has ordered Meta to provide free WhatsApp AI Access to competing AI assistants. The move comes during an ongoing antitrust investigation into Meta’s business practices. European regulators believe Meta may have unfairly favored its own AI services. As a result, the company must comply with the order within five working days.
EU Challenges Meta’s AI Restrictions
The dispute began after Meta updated its WhatsApp Business terms in late 2025. The changes blocked third-party AI assistants from using the WhatsApp Business API. Consequently, Meta AI became the only assistant with direct access to the platform. Several companies raised concerns soon after. These included French startup Agentik and other AI providers across Europe. Their complaints prompted the European Commission to launch a formal investigation in December 2025.
The policy also affected major technology firms. OpenAI redirected WhatsApp users to its ChatGPT application, while Microsoft shut down Copilot on WhatsApp. Both companies indicated they would have preferred to remain on the platform.
In February 2026, regulators issued preliminary findings that suggested Meta had violated EU competition rules. Later, Meta reopened access to outside AI assistants. However, the company introduced fees that regulators viewed as a barrier to fair competition.
What Happens Next?
The European Commission has now imposed interim measures, a step it has not taken in 17 years. Under these rules, competing AI assistants must receive free access throughout the investigation. Regulators argue that delays could permanently harm competition in the fast-moving AI market. Therefore, they believe immediate action is necessary.
Meta strongly disagrees with the decision. The company argues that it is being forced to provide a paid business service for free to some of the world’s largest technology firms. As a result, Meta plans to appeal the ruling.
The investigation remains ongoing. If regulators ultimately rule against Meta, the company could face fines worth up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
For WhatsApp users, daily messaging will remain unchanged. However, the decision could shape which AI assistants become available on the platform in the future. :::
