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The European Commission has initiated a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) concerning its new WhatsApp policy that restricts AI providers’ access to the ‘WhatsApp Business Solution.’ Announced in October 2025, this policy bars AI providers from utilizing the service if AI is their primary offering, raising potential EU competition rule violations.
The investigation focuses on whether this policy might hinder third-party AI providers from reaching customers in the European Economic Area (EEA), while permitting Meta’s own AI service, ‘Meta AI,’ continued access. The updated terms apply to new AI providers from October 15, 2025, and to existing providers as of January 15, 2026. Notably, Italy is excluded from this investigation due to existing proceedings by the Italian Competition Authority.
The investigation aims to determine if Meta’s practices constitute an abuse of its dominant market position, possibly breaching EU competition regulations. This action is part of the Commission’s continuous oversight of AI markets within the EEA, which began with a consultation in January 2024.
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