The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for rival AI chatbots, citing the need to prevent irreparable harm to competition during an ongoing antitrust investigation.

Key Points

• The European Commission issued an interim order requiring Meta to provide free WhatsApp access to third-party AI assistants.
• This emergency measure marks only the second time the EU has utilized such powers in over two decades.
• Meta must comply with the order by June 15th or face potential fines reaching 10 percent of its annual revenue.
• The mandate follows a formal investigation launched in December 2025 regarding Meta’s alleged abuse of market dominance.
• Meta has publicly rejected the ruling as regulatory overreach and confirmed plans to appeal the decision.

Why it Matters

This ruling sets a significant precedent for how regulators manage access to dominant digital platforms in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market. By forcing Meta to maintain open access, the EU aims to ensure that smaller AI developers can reach consumers without being sidelined by platform owners.