EU Orders Meta to Reopen WhatsApp to Rival AI Assistants

The European Commission has ordered Meta to reinstate rival AI assistants on WhatsApp within five days, using interim measures while its antitrust investigation into Meta's policy continues. The move comes after Meta banned all third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp late last year, transitioning away from an open approach to embed its own AI deeper into the platform. Competitors like Microsoft Copilot were removed in January 2026, along with smaller startups such as Interaction and Poke.com. EC Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that in rapidly evolving markets, competition can be lost before a final decision is adopted, and the interim measures aim to preserve a key entry point for AI companies to reach European consumers.

This regulatory action is part of a broader EU crackdown on US tech giants, which has already resulted in over $10 billion in fines against Google. Meta had been exploring AI as a revenue driver for WhatsApp—which has over three billion users but generates far less revenue than Facebook or Instagram—by embedding its own AI model into WhatsApp Business. However, the Commission's order forces Meta to allow rival AI services or face fines and a potentially more severe antitrust ruling. The decision also puts Meta on thin ice with the bloc, as it already faces content moderation rules under the Digital Services Act for WhatsApp Channels, Facebook, and Instagram. Failure to comply could lead to additional penalties and set a precedent for how dominant platforms must treat third-party AI services.