Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has launched a formal examination into Meta over its new terms of use for WhatsApp, raising concerns the rules may violate EU antitrust law. The probe centers on whether Meta is leveraging its dominant market position to stifle competition by restricting third-party access to its messaging platform.
Introduced in october 2025, the updated terms prohibit companies – excluding Meta’s own AI service, Meta AI – from offering independent artificial intelligence (AI) services on the “WhatsApp business Solution” platform. This platform enables businesses to communicate directly with customers via WhatsApp for support, order confirmations, and marketing. Previously, companies like OpenAI and Microsoft utilized the platform to integrate ChatGPT and Copilot directly into WhatsApp Messenger, a functionality set to be discontinued under the new guidelines, effective October 15, 2025, for new providers and January 15, 2026, for existing ones.
The Commission’s investigation, announced May 8, 2024, will assess whether Meta’s actions constitute an abuse of its dominant position, possibly violating Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) or Article 54 of the EEA Agreement. the investigation encompasses the European Economic Area, excluding Italy due to ongoing proceedings by its national competition authority.
This action aligns with the EU’s broader efforts to curb the power of major tech companies through legislation like the Digital Markets Act, which recently mandated WhatsApp to enable interoperability with other messaging services. The Commission’s statement indicates a commitment to ensuring fair competition within the digital landscape.
