EU announces it plans to impose measures on Meta to reverse WhatsApp AI policy

The European Commission has signaled its intention to implement "interim measures" aimed at preventing Meta from excluding third-party AI assistants from its messaging platform, WhatsApp. On Monday, officials notified Meta of their preliminary assessment that the company may have violated EU antitrust regulations. The ongoing investigation will determine the final outcome, contingent on Meta's responses and its right to defend itself. Teresa Ribera, the EU's Commissioner for Competition, emphasized the need to protect fair competition, stating, "We must ensure that dominant tech firms do not exploit their market position to gain unfair advantages." Ribera highlighted the rapid evolution of AI markets, stressing the urgency of their actions. "To ensure that competitors can access WhatsApp during the investigation, we are contemplating prompt interim measures," she explained, warning that Meta's new policy could irreparably damage competition in Europe. In October, Meta unveiled changes to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, effectively prohibiting the use of third-party general-purpose AI assistants on the platform. This new policy took effect in January. A spokesperson for the Commission informed CNBC that the interim measures would require Meta to allow third-party AI assistants access to WhatsApp under the previous terms while the investigation unfolds. Contrarily, a Meta spokesperson countered the Commission's assertions, stating, "There is no justification for EU intervention regarding the WhatsApp Business API. Numerous AI options are available through app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and industry collaborations. The Commission's reasoning incorrectly presumes that the WhatsApp Business API is a crucial distribution channel for these chatbots." This situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as the investigation progresses.