WhatsApp must allow other AI providers due to EU order

The European Union's Commission is compelling WhatsApp to reinstate free access to third-party AI assistants within five business days. The tech giant Meta, which owns WhatsApp, faces this mandate amid concerns that its recent restrictions are stifling competition in the rapidly expanding market for universal AI assistants.

EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that WhatsApp serves as a crucial gateway for AI companies seeking to connect with European users. The Commission's decision aims to safeguard consumer choice, ensuring that users can select their preferred AI assistants to use with WhatsApp without Meta dictating their options. The EU executive body is investigating whether Meta's actions violate EU competition law.

This intervention follows Meta's October 2025 decision to block third-party access to interfaces that allowed companies to integrate their services with WhatsApp. According to the EU Commission, this move effectively limited users to Meta's own AI, "Meta AI." Although Meta later reopened access in March, it introduced a fee, which Brussels views as a continuation of the access barrier.

The Commission's order requires Meta to restore access under the same conditions that were in place before October 15, 2025. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10% of Meta's previous fiscal year's global turnover, along with daily penalty payments of up to 5% of its average daily turnover. The investigation into Meta's practices is ongoing.

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With today's decision, we also preserve citizens' freedom of choice across Europe regarding the AI assistants they want to use with WhatsApp, without this decision being made for them.