The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for competing AI assistants. The decision comes as regulators continue investigating the company’s business practices in the artificial intelligence market.
The interim order requires Meta to provide rival AI services access to the WhatsApp Business API under the same conditions that existed before October 2025. Moreover, the company must comply within five working days.
Why the EU Intervened
The dispute centers on changes Meta introduced to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in October 2025.
Under the revised policy, third-party general-purpose AI assistants could no longer use the WhatsApp Business API. The restriction took effect in January 2026. As a result, Meta AI became the only AI assistant able to access WhatsApp through that route.
The WhatsApp Business API allows companies to connect their systems with WhatsApp and interact with users. Consequently, regulators began examining whether Meta used WhatsApp’s massive user base to strengthen its own AI products at the expense of competitors.
Following complaints from several AI developers, including The Interaction Company, French startup Agentik, and a Spanish rival, the European Commission launched a formal investigation in December 2025.
How Rival AI Assistants Were Affected
The policy change had a significant impact on competing AI providers operating through WhatsApp.
In October 2025, OpenAI advised users to switch to the ChatGPT application. The company stated that more than 50 million people had used ChatGPT on WhatsApp. Similarly, Microsoft later announced that Copilot on WhatsApp would shut down because of Meta’s updated policy.
Meta partially reversed its position in March 2026. However, the company introduced fees for access to the platform. According to the European Commission, those charges were excessively high. Therefore, regulators argued that competitors remained effectively blocked from operating on equal terms.
A Rare Regulatory Move
The European Commission has now imposed interim measures while the broader investigation continues.
Such orders are rarely used. However, regulators may issue them when they believe competition could suffer serious and irreversible harm before a final ruling is reached.
EU competition chief Teresa Ribera explained that AI markets are evolving rapidly. Therefore, waiting for a final decision could allow competitive advantages to become permanent.
The interim measures will remain in effect during the investigation. Alternatively, they will stay in place until June 2029 at the latest.
What Meta Must Do
Under the order, Meta must restore access to the WhatsApp Business API for rival AI assistants free of charge. In addition, the company must offer access under the same terms that existed before the October 2025 policy change.
Despite the order, regulators have not yet reached a final conclusion regarding Meta’s conduct. The antitrust investigation remains ongoing.
If the Commission ultimately determines that Meta violated EU competition rules, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
Meta Pushes Back
Meta has rejected the Commission’s decision and confirmed plans to appeal.
A company spokesperson argued that the Commission is forcing Meta to allow OpenAI and other major companies to use a paid WhatsApp Business product for free.
Meta described the ruling as “regulatory overreach” and claimed that European businesses paying for the service would effectively subsidize large AI companies.
What the Decision Means for WhatsApp Users
The ruling does not directly affect everyday messaging on WhatsApp.
Instead, the case focuses on which AI assistants can operate through WhatsApp’s business infrastructure. If competing AI services regain access, users across Europe could once again have more AI assistant options within the platform.
Furthermore, the outcome may shape how European regulators approach AI distribution on major digital platforms in the years ahead.
As the investigation continues, the case is expected to become a key test of competition policy in the rapidly expanding AI industry.
