EU Probes Meta's WhatsApp AI Restrictions for Antitrust

The European Commission launched an antitrust investigation on Thursday into Meta Platforms' new policy restricting third-party AI providers from using WhatsApp's business tools, raising concerns that the measures could stifle competition in the rapidly growing AI sector across the European Economic Area.

The probe focuses on updated terms for WhatsApp's Business API, introduced in late October, which prohibit AI companies from distributing chatbots through the platform when AI serves as the primary functionality. Businesses may still employ AI for secondary purposes, such as automated customer support, but general-purpose AI chatbots from competitors like OpenAI or Perplexity are barred. The policy applies to new AI providers since October 15 and will extend to existing ones starting January 15, 2025. In contrast, Meta's own AI assistant remains fully integrated and accessible within WhatsApp, a feature the company rolled out across Europe in March following regulatory delays.

Commission officials expressed worry that the restrictions could prevent rival AI firms from reaching customers via WhatsApp, potentially allowing Meta to leverage its dominant position in messaging to...