Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms’ new policy on AI providers’ access to its messaging service WhatsApp, raising concerns that it could limit competition in Europe’s growing AI market.

Under the policy, set to take effect in January 2026, competing AI providers may face restrictions on offering their services through WhatsApp, while Meta’s own Meta AI service would remain accessible to platform users. EU regulators are examining whether this could constitute abuse of market dominance, potentially preventing rival AI companies from reaching millions of European users.

EU Competition Concerns

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasized the importance of maintaining a level playing field in digital markets:

“We must ensure European citizens and businesses can fully benefit from this technological revolution and act to prevent dominant digital incumbents from abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors. This is why we are investigating if Meta’s new policy might be illegal under competition rules, and whether we should act quickly to prevent any possible irreparable harm to competition in the AI space.”

The investigation is part of a broader EU effort to regulate big tech and AI, ensuring that dominant platforms do not leverage their market position to stifle innovation or limit consumer choice.

Implications for Meta and the AI Ecosystem

If regulators determine that Meta’s policy restricts competition, the company could face significant fines or be required to change its access rules for AI services in the EU. Analysts note that this move signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of major tech platforms in Europe, particularly in areas where AI adoption intersects with consumer messaging and communication platforms.

This investigation adds to ongoing challenges for Meta in the EU, where digital markets and AI regulations are tightening to foster competition and innovation while safeguarding consumer interests.