Brussels Moves to Pry Open WhatsApp After Meta Bars Rival AI Assistants

The European Commission has launched a formal offensive against Meta for allegedly rigging the AI assistant market by barring competitors from WhatsApp, marking a pivotal test of how antitrust rules apply to emerging artificial intelligence ecosystems. In an urgent intervention, regulators warned that Meta's restrictions could cause "serious and irreparable harm" to digital innovation unless swiftly countered.

The Lockout Strategy

Last October, Meta quietly overhauled WhatsApp Business policies to prohibit general-purpose third-party AI assistants from operating on its platform. This policy shift forced OpenAI to remove ChatGPT from WhatsApp in December 2025, abandoning over 50 million users. "We would have much preferred to continue serving you," OpenAI stated, explicitly blaming Meta's policy changes. Microsoft followed weeks later, pulling Copilot despite its popularity for enabling "millions to connect with their AI companion in a familiar setting.

By January 15, 2026, Meta AI became the sole assistant directly integrated with WhatsApp—a platform boasting over 2 billion global users. The European Commission's preliminary findings declare this an illegal abuse of dominance under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Regulators assert WhatsApp constitutes an "essential gateway" for AI assistants, making Meta's restrictions anticompetitive.

Choking Innovation

EU investigators found Meta holds unquestioned dominance in consumer messaging across the European Economic Area. By controlling this critical channel, Meta potentially stifles competition in three key ways:

1. Barrier to entry: New AI developers cannot reach users through WhatsApp's network effects
2. Market distortion: Meta AI gains unfair advantage while rivals lose training data and user insights
3. Consumer harm: Users lose choice among AI tools and face reduced innovation

"Artificial intelligence brings incredible innovations, but we cannot allow dominant companies to illegally leverage their power," stated Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera. The Commission emphasized WhatsApp's role as a daily communication hub makes it uniquely positioned to influence AI adoption—meaning blocking rivals could permanently alter the market before alternatives emerge.

Emergency Measures Loom

In a rare escalation, regulators are considering interim measures to force Meta to reinstate competitor access during the ongoing investigation. Such emergency actions—invoked only when regulators foresee irreversible market damage—would represent one of Europe's most aggressive interventions in digital markets since the Digital Markets Act took effect. Failure to comply could expose Meta to fines up to 10% of global revenue under EU competition law.

Meta disputes the allegations, claiming AI assistants have "multiple distribution channels" like app stores and operating systems. The company cited a Brazilian court ruling that rejected WhatsApp's status as an essential platform for chatbots. However, EU officials note WhatsApp's penetration exceeds 80% in multiple member states—a scale unmatched in emerging markets.

Broader Implications

This case signals regulators' determination to prevent Big Tech from extending dominance into AI:

• Gatekeeper scrutiny: Platforms controlling user access points face heightened antitrust risk
• Interoperability demands: Rules may require opening APIs to rivals (as seen with messaging interoperability under DMA)
• Global ripple effects: US FTC and UK CMA monitor closely for similar abuses

If upheld, the ruling could mandate structural changes to WhatsApp's architecture, potentially requiring standardized APIs for third-party AI integration—a move that would reshape how assistants interact with messaging platforms. With AI assistant usage projected to triple by 2028, this battle may define whether users get diverse AI choices or walled-garden monopolies.