EU Orders Meta to Restore Free WhatsApp Access for Rival AI Chatbots

The European Commission has taken the rare step of using emergency powers to force Meta's hand in a long-running antitrust investigation. The regulator has ordered Meta to reinstate free access to its WhatsApp messaging platform for chatbots made by rival artificial intelligence providers.

This move follows a formal investigation launched in December 2025 into whether Meta was abusing its market dominance by banning third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp. In March, Meta restored access to these rivals 'for a fee', which the EU has deemed a potential breach of competition rules.

The Commission's decision is aimed at preventing serious harm to competition in the general-purpose AI assistant market. This is only the second time the EU has used its emergency powers in over 20 years, highlighting the significance of this case.

According to European Commissioner Teresa Ribera, interim measures are necessary 'to prevent harm that would be almost impossible to repair'. The order requires Meta to restore WhatsApp access for third-party AI rivals under the same terms and conditions as before the ban – which was free of charge.

The broader antitrust investigation is ongoing, with no date set for a conclusion. If Meta fails to comply with the order by June 15th, it could face fines of up to 10 percent of its annual revenue – estimated at around $20 billion based on 2025 earnings.

A Meta spokesperson has rejected the case as 'baseless', stating that the company plans to appeal the decision. The Commission's move is seen as a significant step in safeguarding competition in the growing market for AI assistants.