EU Commission Threatens Meta with Interim Measures Over WhatsApp AI Exclusion
The European Commission has intensified its regulatory pressure on Meta by threatening interim measures due to the exclusion of competing AI assistants from WhatsApp. Since mid-January 2026, only Meta’s proprietary AI chatbot has been accessible on the platform, effectively blocking rivals like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. The Commission argues this practice causes serious and irreparable damage to market competition. Although Meta proposed changes in March 2026 following an investigation launched in December 2025, regulators deemed these adjustments insufficient as they maintained the de facto access ban. The interim measures aim to restore competitor access until a final decision is reached, though no specific timeline exists. Meta denies the allegations, asserting that ample AI options remain available through other channels and disputing the significance of WhatsApp as a primary sales channel for AI services. This development occurs alongside broader EU proceedings against Meta for violations of digital laws, including issues related to data transparency and illegal content management, potentially leading to substantial fines.
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EU Commission Threatens Meta with Interim Measures Over WhatsApp AI Exclusion
The European Commission has intensified its regulatory pressure on Meta by threatening interim measures due to the exclusion of competing AI assistants from WhatsApp. Since mid-January 2026, only Meta’s proprietary AI chatbot has been accessible on the platform, effectively blocking rivals like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. The Commission argues this practice causes serious and irreparable damage to market competition. Although Meta proposed changes in March 2026 following an investigation launched in December 2025, regulators deemed these adjustments insufficient as they maintained the de facto access ban. The interim measures aim to restore competitor access until a final decision is reached, though no specific timeline exists. Meta denies the allegations, asserting that ample AI options remain available through other channels and disputing the significance of WhatsApp as a primary sales channel for AI services. This development occurs alongside broader EU proceedings against Meta for violations of digital laws, including issues related to data transparency and illegal content management, potentially leading to substantial fines.
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