Why WhatsApp Now Only Allows Meta AI: The EU Is Looking Into What’s Happening
Brussel, vrijdag, 5 december 2025.
From 15 January, WhatsApp will no longer allow external AI bots, while Meta’s own AI assistant remains fully operational. This has raised concerns with the European Commission, as it appears to be a form of market power abuse that blocks competition. Most notably, an AI service with around 50 million users—such as ChatGPT—has disappeared from WhatsApp, while Meta’s alternative remains freely available. The Commission is investigating whether this policy violates European competition rules. The outcome could shape the future of AI on digital platforms across Europe.
The Disappearance of External AI Bots: A Critical Moment for Digital Competition
As of 15 January 2026, it will be nearly impossible for external AI companies to offer their services via WhatsApp to users in Europe. Meta’s new rules—its parent company—prohibit the use of the Business API for competitor AI chatbots, while Meta’s own AI assistant, Meta AI, continues to operate without restriction [1][3][5][6]. This has immediate consequences for users who previously accessed tools such as ChatGPT through WhatsApp, which was used by approximately 50 million people [3]. The European Commission believes this policy may hinder the competitiveness of other AI providers and fears Meta is misusing its dominant position in the digital market to exclude innovative rivals [1][3][5][6]. As a result, the Commission has launched an antitrust investigation to assess whether this measure breaches European competition rules. The inquiry focuses on whether the ban on external bots creates an unfair advantage for Meta’s own AI service, while competitors are excluded from a platform with millions of active users [1][5][6].
Meta’s Defense: Systems Under Pressure, But Competition Remains Open
Meta defends the policy by emphasizing that using AI chatbots via the WhatsApp Business API places a heavy burden on systems not designed for such workloads [1][3][5][6]. According to a WhatsApp spokesperson, the platform’s technological infrastructure was not built to handle the volume of AI-driven interactions, posing risks to service stability and security [1][3][5][6]. The company argues that the AI market as a whole remains highly competitive and that users can still access their preferred services through other channels such as apps, search engines, email services, and operating systems [1][3][5][6]. These statements are echoed in multiple sources, including statements to Reuters and the Financial Times, where Meta stresses it is not creating exclusive access, but merely imposing a technical limit [1][3][5][6]. However, the Commission points out that the platform plays a crucial role in the digital communication of millions of people, and that excluded access to WhatsApp—one of Europe’s most widely used messaging services—represents a substantial barrier to competition [1][3][5][6].
The Role of the European Commission: Concerns Over Abuse of Power in the AI Era
European Commissioner Teresa Ribera, responsible for competitiveness within the European Commission, has made clear that the EU must act proactively to prevent dominant digital players from misusing their power to suppress innovative competitors [1][3][5][6]. The Commission emphasizes that AI markets in Europe and beyond are growing rapidly, and that all citizens and businesses should be able to benefit from this technological revolution [1][3][5][6]. The investigation is a direct response to Meta’s recent policy change, which, effective 15 January 2026, restricts access to the Business API for AI services, while Meta’s own AI service remains fully available [1][3][5][6]. The Commission has warned that the policy could lead to irreversible damage to competition in the AI sector, and that swift intervention is necessary to prevent this [1][3][5][6]. The investigation falls under existing EU competition rules and is separate from the newer Digital Services Act (DSA), although that law has also led to multiple investigations against Meta [5][6].
International Perspective: Italian Regulators and Geopolitical Tensions
The European Commission’s concerns are not limited to internal EU matters. Since July 2025, a parallel antitrust investigation has been underway in Rome, where Italian competition authorities accuse Meta of misusing its dominant market position by integrating AI functionality into WhatsApp without user consent [1][6]. Italian authorities fear that the new conditions, which take effect from 15 January 2026, will restrict the production, market access, and technical development of AI chatbot services across Europe [1][6]. These concerns extend beyond Europe: the U.S. government, under former President Donald Trump, issued threats of economic sanctions against European officials implementing EU technology policy in August 2025, increasing political pressure on the Commission [1][6]. Therefore, the outcome of the investigation may not simply determine the fate of a single AI service, but also serve as a symbol for the future of digital sovereignty in Europe and the balance between technological innovation and market control [1][3][5][6].