EU Launches Antitrust Probe Into Meta's WhatsApp AI Integration

The EU is launching an antitrust probe into Meta's integration of AI features in WhatsApp, focusing on competition concerns and the exclusion of rival AI chatbots. Italian regulators are also investigating.

The European Union is set to launch a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms over its integration of artificial intelligence features into WhatsApp. The probe will focus on the rollout of Meta AI, which began in March, and will be conducted under traditional competition rules rather than the Digital Markets Act. Regulators are concerned that Meta may have leveraged its dominant position to integrate AI features without user consent and to restrict access for rival AI chatbot providers, particularly following a policy change that bans third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp’s Business API while allowing Meta’s own AI service to remain. Italian authorities have already widened their own investigation into Meta, examining changes to WhatsApp Business terms and the potential for unfair competitive advantages. The outcome of the EU’s investigation could set a precedent for how major platforms integrate AI technologies while maintaining fair competition in the digital market.