EU Commission forces WhatsApp to open up to competing AI assistants

Reasoning of the EU Commission

The decision now taken obliges Meta to restore access on the same conditions that applied before 15 October 2025, it was said. The US company Meta, which owns WhatsApp, must implement the interim measures within five working days, the EU Commission announced. WhatsApp is described as the market leader among messenger services and is an important gateway for AI companies to reach consumers in Europe.

EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera justified the move by citing the need to protect competition in a rapidly growing market. "In rapidly evolving markets, competition can be lost long before a final decision is adopted", the EU competition chief said. At the same time, she stressed: "Mit der heutigen Entscheidung bewahren wir auch die Wahlfreiheit der Bürger in ganz Europa hinsichtlich der KI-Assistenten, die sie mit WhatsApp nutzen möchten, ohne dass diese Entscheidung für sie getroffen wird." The Commission otherwise fears "serious and irreparable harm" to competition in the growing market for universal AI assistants.

The Brussels authority classifies the order as a rare intervention in an ongoing proceeding and has been investigating Meta since December 2025. The investigation is examining whether the restrictions violate EU competition law. Independently of this, EU proceedings are underway against the company for violations of European digital laws.

Possible penalties for non-compliance

If the company violates the measures, it faces fines of up to ten percent of total revenue in the previous financial year. In addition, the Commission can impose daily penalty payments of up to five percent of average daily revenue to enforce the decision. Daily penalties would also be possible to bring the US company to heel. The investigation in the case is not yet definitively concluded; there is no statutory deadline by which investigations must be completed.

Reaction from Meta and further proceedings

A Meta spokesperson said in February that there was no reason for the EU to intervene. "Es gibt viele KI-Optionen, die über App-Stores, Betriebssysteme, Geräte, Websites und Industriepartnerschaften genutzt werden können", the spokesperson argued. The EU Commission wrongly assumes that the interface at WhatsApp is an important distribution channel for these chatbots.

In parallel, the EU Commission announced at the end of April that, according to preliminary investigation findings, Facebook and Instagram were not adequately protecting children from the dangers of their offerings. The Brussels internet watchdogs are demanding that the platforms enforce the minimum age of 13 that they themselves have set in their terms of service. Otherwise, a hefty penalty threatens – up to six percent of annual group revenue.