The Financial Times reported on Thursday that Brussels is contemplating a fresh antitrust inquiry into Meta Platforms, opening a new chapter in its development of artificial intelligence features in WhatsApp, reflecting growing criticism of Big Tech’s use of generative AI on huge platforms.
The commission planned to launch an investigation into how the California-based corporation integrated its Meta AI system into the messaging service early this year, according to the FT, citing two officials.
The European Commission has however initiated a formal antitrust inquiry over Meta’s new ban limiting third-party AI companies’ access to WhatsApp, citing fears that the measure may impede competition.
Since March 2025, Meta AI, a chatbot and virtual assistant, has been integrated into the WhatsApp interface in European regions.
The investigation also focusses on a Meta policy, announced in October 2025 and implemented in January 2026, that prevents AI service providers from accessing the WhatsApp Business Solution API if AI is their principal service offering. The Commission is concerned that this may prevent competing AI companies from reaching clients on the popular messaging platform, while Meta’s own “Meta AI” service is still freely available to users.
According to Teresa Ribera, the EU Antitrust Director, she stated that the commission “must ensure that European citizens and businesses can fully benefit from this technological revolution and act to prevent dominant digital incumbents from abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors.”
The aspect of the inquiry seek to determine whether Meta’s policy violates EU competition laws by exploiting its dominating market position.
On legal basis, the more recent Digital Markets Act (DMA), the investigation is covered under classic EU antitrust laws (Article 102 TFEU).
The firm told Reuters that it had not received any specifics about the investigation and referred to an earlier WhatsApp statement on the Italian investigation, which it characterised as “unfounded.”
In July, the Italian antitrust agency began looking into claims that Meta used its market dominance by incorporating an AI technology into WhatsApp. In November, the investigation was broadened to look at whether Meta had further abused its power by preventing competing AI chatbots from using the messaging service.
According to the newspaper, the commission is anticipated to make an announcement about the probe in the upcoming days, however the exact date may vary. According to FT, the investigation would be carried out under conventional antitrust laws rather than the EU’s historic Digital Markets Act, which is already being used to examine Microsoft’s cloud services and Amazon.
Reuters’ request for comment from the European Commission was not immediately answered. It turned down the FT’s request for comment.
To avoid contradictory decisions, the EU’s formal probe extends throughout the whole European Economic Area (EEA), with the exception of Italy.
And the potential outcomes from what companies found in violation of EU competition rules face fines of up to 10% of their global sales.
Meta has yet to reveal official details of the EU investigation, but has already described the Italian inquiry as “unfounded”.
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