The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore WhatsApp's access to Meta AI's competing artificial intelligence assistants free of charge. This decision comes as part of an investigation opened by Brussels into possible anti-competitive practices by the American company. Meta now has five business days to comply with this injunction, or face a fine of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
The conflict dates back to the end of 2025 when Meta decided to block WhatsApp access for chatbots that competed with its own artificial intelligence assistant. The company justified this measure by citing technical and financial constraints, arguing that these external services were generating an increasing volume of traffic without contributing to infrastructure costs. Faced with criticism from Brussels, Meta subsequently agreed to reintegrate these assistants, but imposed access fees that the Commission now considers incompatible with European competition rules.
Brussels wants to preserve competition in artificial intelligence
For European authorities, WhatsApp has become a crucial gateway to hundreds of millions of users. Blocking or increasing access to this platform could stifle the development of new artificial intelligence players and strengthen Meta's dominant position in a rapidly expanding market. Brussels believes that the conditions imposed by the group risk limiting innovation and reducing the range of choices available to European consumers.
The Commission's Vice-President in charge of competition, Teresa Ribera, defended the intervention, stating that the objective is to guarantee an open market where AI companies can continue to develop without depending on the decisions of large digital platforms. According to her, European users must be able to freely choose the artificial intelligence assistants they wish to use within their messaging applications.
American tech giants under pressure
This procedure is part of a broader offensive by the European Union aimed at curbing the power of large American tech companies. In addition to Meta, Google is currently under pressure to open its Android system more widely to competing AI assistants. For its part, Apple is also criticizing European requirements, which it believes could slow the development of certain artificial intelligence features on its devices.
European authorities, however, reject these arguments. Brussels considers the openness of digital ecosystems essential for maintaining effective competition in technology markets. European officials also reiterate that the rules adopted under the Digital Markets Act apply to all dominant players, regardless of their origin or size.
A decisive battle for the future of AI
The WhatsApp case illustrates the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the power dynamics between regulators and tech giants. As chatbots become everyday tools, the platforms that control user access occupy a considerable strategic position. For companies developing these technologies, the ability to freely integrate their services into major communication applications represents a major commercial opportunity.
Beyond the Meta case, the European decision could set a precedent for the entire sector. It confirms the European Union's commitment to preventing a small number of players from controlling both the streaming platforms and the artificial intelligence tools offered on them. This approach could influence future technology regulations in other parts of the world.
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