EU Orders Meta to Open WhatsApp to Rival AI Chatbots for Free
The European Commission ordered Meta on June 9 to grant rival AI chatbots free access to WhatsApp within five working days as part of an antitrust investigation, or face fines up to 10% of annual turnover. The order follows Meta's October 2025 policy change that effectively blocked third-party AI assistants and a February warning from EU regulators. The EU aims to protect competition in the emerging AI assistant market and prevent large tech incumbents from leveraging past dominance to control innovation.
The European Commission issued an interim measure requiring Meta to restore WhatsApp access for competing AI assistants at no cost, citing concerns that Meta's restrictions infringe EU competition rules. The order comes after Meta introduced an access fee in response to earlier EU warnings, which Brussels rejected as equivalent to a ban. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera stated the measure is necessary to prevent "serious and irreparable harm" to competition in the growing AI assistant market and to ensure European citizens can choose their preferred chatbots. Meta announced it would appeal the decision, arguing the requirement amounts to "regulatory overreach subsidised by European companies." The commission can impose fines up to 10% of Meta's total turnover if the company intentionally or negligently violates the interim measure. This represents only the second use of such interim measures by the EU since 2019, underscoring the regulator's view of the urgency involved.
What's missing
The article does not specify which rival AI chatbots or companies would gain access under this order, beyond a Meta spokesperson's reference to OpenAI and 'some of the largest companies in the world.' Additionally, the practical mechanisms for implementing free access and monitoring compliance are not detailed.
What different sources said
- The Straits TimesCenter
EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots for free
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