Meta faces Europe antitrust investigation over WhatsApp AI policy

Meta is now facing scrutiny from the European Union as it embarks on an antitrust investigation concerning the integration of AI features within WhatsApp. This move reflects the EU's intensified efforts to hold major US tech corporations accountable for their practices. The investigation will focus on whether Meta's recent policy, which permits AI providers to access WhatsApp, infringes upon EU competition laws. This announcement was made by Brussels in a statement released Thursday morning. A spokesperson for WhatsApp has dismissed the allegations as unfounded, asserting that the app's application programming interface (API) was not intended to support AI chatbots and that such integration could strain their systems. Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized the competitive nature of the AI landscape, highlighting that users can access various services through multiple channels, including app stores and email services. This inquiry follows a series of penalties imposed by the European Commission on other major tech players, including a hefty fine of €2.95 billion ($3.45 billion) on Google over antitrust violations linked to online advertising. Similarly, Apple faced a €500 million fine for failing to comply with anti-steering regulations, while Meta itself was fined €200 million earlier this year for not providing consumers with options that utilize less personal data. As developments unfold, this story remains dynamic and will be updated as new information becomes available.