The European Commission warned Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) on Monday that it could impose interim remedies requiring WhatsApp to reopen its platform to competing AI assistants, after raising concerns that Meta may have breached EU competition law by restricting rival access.
The Commission said it has issued a Statement of Objections to Meta, setting out its preliminary view that the company abused a dominant market position by excluding third-party, general-purpose artificial intelligence assistants from WhatsApp.
According to the EU watchdog, Meta amended its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in October, with the changes taking effect in January. As a result, Meta AI became the sole AI assistant permitted on the messaging service.
Regulators warned that the policy could prevent competitors from entering or scaling in the rapidly expanding market for AI assistants, and that allowing the restrictions to remain in place during the investigation could cause serious and irreparable harm to competition.
In its initial assessment, the Commission said WhatsApp is likely to hold a dominant position in the European Economic Area market for consumer communication apps and functions as a critical gateway through which AI assistants can reach users. On that basis, it argued there is an urgent need for interim measures to ensure smaller rivals are not sidelined while the case is ongoing.
The Commission stressed that issuing a Statement of Objections does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation. Meta can now submit a written response to the allegations and request an oral hearing.
Under EU competition rules, the Commission may adopt interim measures if the legal conditions are met, without waiting for a final ruling on whether Meta ultimately violated antitrust law.
The investigation covers the European Economic Area excluding Italy, where the national competition authority imposed its own interim measures on Meta in December.
Formal proceedings were launched by the Commission in December under Article 102 of the EU Treaty, which prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position.
Meta’s core businesses include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, alongside online advertising as well as virtual and augmented reality products.