Commission notifies Meta of possib interim measures to reverse exclusion of third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp

The European Commission has sent a Statement of Objections to Meta, setting out itspreliminary view that Meta breached EU antitrust rules by excluding third party ArtificialIntelligence ('Al') assistants from accessing and interacting with users on WhatsAppMeta's conduct risks blocking competitors from entering or expanding in the rapidlygrowing market for Al assistants.

The Commission therefore intends to impose interim measures to prevent this policychange from causing serious and irreparable harm on the market, subject to Meta'sreply and rights of defence.

Meta's flagship products are its social networks, such as Facebook and Instagram, andconsumer communication applications, such as WhatsApp and Messenger. lt alsooperates online advertising services and virtual and augmented reality products. Metaprovides a general-purpose Al assistant, Meta Al.

On 15 October 2025, Meta announced an update of its WhatsApp Business SolutionTerms, effectively banning third-party general-purpose Al assistants from the application.As a result, since 15 January 2026, the only Al assistant available on WhatsApp is Meta'sown tool, Meta Al, while competitors have been excluded.

The Commission has informed Meta that this policy change appears at first sight to be inbreach of EU competition rules.

The Commission's investigation

The Commission preliminarily concludes that:

· Meta is likely to be dominant in the European Economic Area ('EEA’) market forconsumer communication applications, notably through WhatsApp.

· Meta is likely to be abusing this dominant position by refusing access toWhatsApp to other businesses, including third-party Al assistants. At this stage, theCommission considers that WhatsApp is an important entry point to enable general-purpose Al assistants reach consumers.

· There is an urgent need for protective measures due to the risk of serious andirreparable damage to competition. Meta's conduct risks raising barriers to entryand expansion, and irreparably marginalising smaller competitors on the market forgeneral-purpose Al assistants.

The sending of a Statement of Objections on interim measures does not prejudge theoutcome of the investigation. Meta now has the possibility to reply to the Commission'sconcerns.

The Statement of Objections covers the EEA except for ltaly, where the ltalianCompetition Authority imposed interim measures on Meta in December 2025.

Background

On 4 December 2025, the Commission opened formal proceedings in the context of thisongoing investigation.

Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') and Article 54 of theEEAAgreement prohibit the abuse of a dominant position that may affect trade andprevent or restrict competition within the Single Market. The implementation of Article 102TFEU is defined in Regulation 1/2003.

Pursuant to Article 8(1) Regulation 1/2003, interim measures may be imposed if, at firstsight, there is an infringement of competition law rules, as well as an urgent need forprotective measures due to the risk of serious and irreparable harm to competition.

A Statement of Objections is a formal step in the Commission's investigations into thenecessity of imposing interim measures. The Commission informs the parties concernedof its preliminary findings in writing. The parties can then examine the documents in theCommission's investigation file, reply in writing and request an oral hearing to present theirViews on the case before representatives of the Commission and national competitionauthorities.

If the Commission concludes, after the parties have exercised their rights of defence, thatthe conditions for interim measures are met, it can adopt a decision imposing suchmeasures, The adoption of an interim measures' decision does not prejudge the finafindings of the Commission on the substance of the case.