News Summary

The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Meta’s decision to restrict third-party AI chatbots from using WhatsApp’s business tools. This policy change, announced in October and set to be enforced fully by January 2026, allows only Meta’s own AI chatbot to operate on the platform, potentially blocking competitors like OpenAI and Perplexity. The European Commission is concerned that this move might prevent other AI providers from reaching their customers through WhatsApp, which could stifle competition and innovation in the AI sector. If Meta is found to have violated EU antitrust rules, it could face significant fines. The investigation underscores the EU’s commitment to ensuring fair competition and preventing dominant tech companies from abusing their market position.