The European Union has escalated its antitrust battle with Meta Platforms, issuing a formal warning that it may force the company to reopen WhatsApp to rival artificial intelligence chatbots. Regulators announced on February 9, 2026, that they have sent a statement of objections to the social media giant, accusing it of abusing its market dominance by blocking third-party AI assistants from its popular messaging platform.
This move marks a significant acceleration in the European Commission’s investigation into Meta’s business practices. The commission is now threatening to impose interim measures, which act as a legal injunction, to stop Meta from excluding competitors while the full investigation continues. Regulators expressed concern that Meta’s current policy could cause permanent damage to competition by preventing rival AI developers from reaching users through one of the world’s most widely used communication tools.
Meta Policy Faces Swift Regulatory Pushback
The conflict centers on a policy change Meta introduced in October 2024 and fully implemented on January 15, 2026. This policy effectively banned third-party AI assistants, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot, from using WhatsApp’s business interface to interact with users. Following this change, only Meta’s own AI assistant, Meta AI, was permitted to operate on the platform.
The European Commission responded quickly to this shift, launching an initial investigation in December 2025. Competition chief Teresa Ribera stated that there is an urgent need for protective measures to prevent smaller competitors from being forced out of the market. The commission’s preliminary view is that WhatsApp serves as a critical gateway for AI technology, and Meta is exploiting its dominant position by denying access to other companies.
Interim Measures Could Force Immediate Changes
Interim measures are rare tools used by the EU to intervene in markets before a final antitrust ruling is reached. By signaling its intent to use these powers, the commission aims to restore access for third-party AI providers immediately. Regulators argued that waiting for the conclusion of a years-long probe could lead to irreversible harm, as users might become locked into Meta’s ecosystem in the meantime.
Meta now has the opportunity to respond to the statement of objections and present a legal defense. The company has previously indicated it might begin charging AI providers to send messages over WhatsApp in regions where regulators legally require access. The outcome of these interim measures will depend on Meta’s response and the commission’s final assessment of the risk to the European AI industry.
Regional Scope and Ongoing Investigations
The EU’s current action covers most of the European Economic Area, including the 27 member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. However, the investigation excludes Italy, where national regulators began their own separate inquiry into Meta’s AI practices in July 2025. The Italian competition authority has already taken steps, ordering Meta in late 2025 to keep WhatsApp open to rival chatbots during its local probe.
This latest enforcement action highlights the growing tension between European regulators and major American technology firms. While the EU moves to protect its domestic AI market and ensure a level playing field, these efforts continue to face scrutiny and pushback from the administration of President Donald Trump. Despite international political pressure, the European Commission maintains that its priority is ensuring that the market for general-purpose AI assistants remains vibrant and open to all players.
