EU Orders Meta to Reopen WhatsApp Access to Rival Chatbots
The European Union is escalating its clash with Meta over its control of WhatsApp and the artificial intelligence sector. The European Commission said it is requiring the company to reopen access to the WhatsApp Business API for rival companies’ chatbots, free of charge, while it continues investigating suspected competition law violations.
The move follows a policy change Meta made in October 2025. Under that change, third-party AI chatbots were barred from the WhatsApp business interface, leaving Meta AI as the only solution able to operate through the service. Before the restriction took effect, companies could use different AI assistants to send messages and notifications to customers through WhatsApp, such as order updates or service notices.
In December, the European Commission opened an antitrust investigation into Meta and later warned that it was considering interim measures until the review was completed. According to the Commission, Meta has held a dominant position in the messaging app market in Europe since at least 2023, and there is suspicion that it used that power to block competing AI players from accessing the platform.
In an effort to soften the criticism, Meta updated its policy in early March and once again allowed rival chatbots access, but for a fee. The EU was not convinced by that solution. The Commission said urgent intervention is needed to prevent irreversible harm to competition in the market while the investigation is still ongoing.
Meta is now required to restore the terms of use that were in place before the change it made in October 2025. The interim order will remain in force until the investigation is completed and a final decision is reached.
“In fast-moving sectors, competition can disappear long before a final decision is made,” said European Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Ribera also said she believed the amount Meta sought to charge for access to the API was too high.
Meta said it will appeal the decision. The company argues that this is an overreaching regulatory intervention that would allow some of the world’s largest technology companies to use WhatsApp Business infrastructure without paying for it.
