EU orders Meta to restore free WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots
The European Commission orders Meta to allow free AI chatbot access on WhatsApp amid antitrust probe.
Why it matters: This rare antitrust intervention targets AI-assisted messaging platforms, shaping competition and compliance for major tech players. Legal professionals must watch evolving regulatory controls on AI integration in messaging apps.
- European Commission issued an interim order on June 10, 2026, compelling Meta to restore free API access to WhatsApp for competing AI assistants.
- The goal is to prevent "serious and irreparable damage" to competition in the emerging general-purpose AI assistant market.
- EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager highlights risks of Meta's restrictions on innovation and market fairness.
- This is among the few instances of the Commission using interim measures signaling urgency and significant competitive concerns.
On June 10, 2026, the European Commission issued a rare interim measure requiring Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp's API for rival AI chatbots. This move comes amid an ongoing antitrust investigation into Meta's recent restrictions that limit third-party AI assistant integrations on WhatsApp and Messenger.
Margrethe Vestager, the Commission's executive vice president for competition policy, expressed concern that Meta's controls may unjustifiably prevent competition and innovation, warning of "serious and irreparable damage" in the general-purpose AI assistant market. "It is in the interest of European consumers and businesses that competition is preserved – especially as the market for general-purpose AI assistants is still emerging," she stated.
The Commission's order obliges Meta to provide free API access during the probe to ensure rivals can continue to offer AI services on WhatsApp without hindrance. This measure reflects the regulators' heightened concern about how dominant platform owners might use their market power to limit access in fast-developing AI sectors.
While details on the specific commercial restrictions Meta imposed or its response to this order remain undisclosed, the interim measure highlights the EU's proactive stance against potential anti-competitive practices involving AI and tech giants. This development is particularly relevant for legal and compliance teams engaged with AI-driven platforms and antitrust issues.
By the numbers:
- June 10, 2026 — date the European Commission issued the interim order
- Few — occasions the Commission has applied interim measures in competition cases
What's next: The Commission's full antitrust investigation into Meta's practices on AI integration with WhatsApp is ongoing; future rulings may clarify permanent access rules.