EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots for free The European Commission has ordered Meta to grant competitors’ AI assistants free access to its messaging and social media platforms as an interim measure during an antitrust investigation. Meta is accused of abusing its market power by blocking access to its WhatsApp for Business API to all rivals, except for its own Meta AI. The company has five working days to make the API free, or it could face a fine of up to 10% of its global annual turnover.

• The European Commission has ordered Meta to provide free access to its messaging and social media platforms for competitors’ AI assistants.
• This interim measure is part of an antitrust investigation into Meta’s alleged abuse of market power.
• Meta previously blocked access to its WhatsApp for Business API to all rivals, except its own Meta AI.
• Meta has been given five working days to comply with the order to make the API free.
• Meta plans to appeal the decision, calling it ‘regulatory overreach’.