AI bots on Whatsapp: EU Commission threatens Meta with enforcement measures
Meta is preventing competitors from accessing an API for WhatsApp data and is thus acting anti-competitively, warns EU Commission – and threatens consequences.
(Image: Hengki Tj/Shutterstock.com)
The EU Commission thinks that Meta is hindering competitors' access to WhatsApp data, thereby violating European competition law. On Monday, the commission communicated its findings to the company and calls on Meta to remove the access barriers until the investigation is concluded. Otherwise, enforcement measures are threatened.
The investigation concerns the “WhatsApp Business Application Programming Interface Terms,” i.e., the rules for accessing a specific interface. The company excludes third-party bots from accessing this API, thereby favoring its Meta AI, the commission emphasizes.
WhatsApp is a "Gatekeeper"
According to the criteria of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA), WhatsApp is a particularly important service. Stricter conditions apply to such “gatekeepers,” especially regarding behavior towards competitors. Meta must now explain to the EU Commission how the company intends to behave. Refuting the allegations is also fundamentally possible.
Meta has so far argued that the AI chatbots that are based on WhatsApp would overstrain the business API. However, there are apparently no restrictions for Meta's own services. From the EU Commission's perspective, this is an indication that Meta is violating the principle of equal treatment and the prohibition of self-preferencing.
Meta sees no reason for the EU to intervene. The EU Commission mistakenly assumes that the WhatsApp interface is an important distribution channel for these chatbots, explains a spokesperson. “There are many AI options that can be used via app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and industry partnerships.”
Videos by heise
First AI proceeding under the DMA
The proceeding initiated at the beginning of December 2025 is the first relevant application of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to products and interfaces in the field of Artificial Intelligence. “AI markets are developing at a rapid pace, which is why we also need to act quickly,” says the responsible competition commissioner Teresa Ribera.
The aim now is to ensure access for competitors to WhatsApp while the investigation is ongoing, emphasizes the Commission, which thus wants to prevent “irreparable damage to competition” in Europe. What possible enforcement measures could look like is open. Until then, Meta now has the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
(mma)
