EU Orders Meta to Open WhatsApp to ChatGPT, Copilot, and Other AI Assistants
On February 9, 2026, the European Commission dropped a bombshell on Meta: open WhatsApp back up to rival AI assistants like ChatGPT and Copilot, or face emergency enforcement action. The EU's competition authority issued a formal statement of objections accusing Meta of violating antitrust laws by blocking third-party AI chatbots from one of the world's most popular messaging platforms.
This isn't a gentle suggestion. The Commission called the situation "urgent" and warned of "irreparable damage" to competition in the rapidly growing AI industry. If Meta doesn't comply, Brussels is prepared to impose interim measures — a rare, emergency tool designed to prevent lasting harm to the market before a full investigation wraps up.
Here's everything you need to know about the EU's antitrust crackdown on Meta, what it means for AI companies, and why this decision could reshape how Big Tech platforms interact with AI competitors.
What Happened: Meta's WhatsApp AI Lockout
The story starts in late 2025. In October 2025, Meta quietly updated WhatsApp's Business Solution terms of service to prohibit third-party companies from using the WhatsApp Business API to distribute general-purpose AI chatbots. The new terms came into effect on January 15, 2026.
The impact was immediate and significant. OpenAI announced that ChatGPT would leave WhatsApp. Microsoft followed suit with Copilot. Other AI assistants like Perplexity were expected to exit next. After January 15, only Meta's own AI assistant — Meta AI — could operate on WhatsApp.
Meta's justification? A spokesperson told TechCrunch at the time: "The purpose of the WhatsApp Business API is to help businesses provide customer support and send relevant updates. Our focus is on supporting the tens of thousands of businesses who are building these experiences on WhatsApp."
Critics saw through this framing immediately. By banning only AI chatbots where "the AI itself is the product," Meta created a surgical exclusion that eliminated competitors while leaving its own Meta AI untouched. Customer service bots? Fine. An AI assistant that competes with Meta AI? Banned.
The EU's Response: Formal Investigation and Statement of Objections
The European Commission didn't wait long. In December 2025, Brussels opened a formal antitrust investigation into Meta's new WhatsApp policy. By February 9, 2026, the Commission had already issued a statement of objections — a formal document laying out charges that Meta's conduct violates EU competition law.
Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's Executive Vice-President for competition, made the stakes crystal clear:
"AI markets are developing at rapid pace, so we also need to be swift in our action. That is why we are considering quickly imposing interim measures on Meta, to preserve access for competitors to WhatsApp while the investigation is ongoing, and avoid Meta's new policy irreparably harming competition in Europe."
Ribera also emphasized the broader principle: "We must protect effective competition in this vibrant field, which means we cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance to give themselves an unfair advantage."
Why WhatsApp Matters for AI Distribution
To understand why the EU moved so fast, you have to understand WhatsApp's role in the AI ecosystem. WhatsApp isn't just a messaging app — it's one of the most important distribution channels for AI assistants worldwide.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Monthly Active Users | Over 2 billion worldwide |
| WhatsApp Business API Users | Tens of thousands of businesses |
| EU Market Dominance | WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app in most EU countries |
| AI Chatbots Affected | ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, and others |
| Meta AI Status | Remains the only AI assistant on WhatsApp |
The Commission described WhatsApp as an "important entry point" for AI chatbots to reach consumers. When you block ChatGPT and Copilot from WhatsApp, you're not just removing a feature — you're cutting off a critical distribution channel that AI companies used to reach hundreds of millions of users where they already spend their time.
For anyone working with AI agents and automation tools, this has huge implications. The way AI assistants are distributed matters just as much as the technology itself. If a dominant platform can unilaterally block competitors, it fundamentally distorts the market.
The Legal Framework: EU Antitrust Law and Interim Measures
The EU is using Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibits companies with a dominant market position from abusing that position. The Commission's argument is straightforward:
- Meta holds a dominant position in consumer messaging through WhatsApp
- Meta leveraged that dominance to exclude AI competitors from its platform
- This constitutes an abuse because it gives Meta AI an unfair advantage in the separate AI assistant market
What makes this case unusual is the speed. The EU's antitrust investigations typically take years. But the Commission is considering interim measures — emergency orders that can be imposed before the investigation concludes. These are extremely rare in EU competition law and signal just how seriously Brussels takes this issue.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2025 | Meta updates WhatsApp Business terms to ban third-party AI chatbots |
| November 2025 | OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Microsoft (Copilot) announce departures from WhatsApp |
| December 2025 | EU opens formal antitrust investigation into Meta's policy |
| January 2026 | New WhatsApp terms take effect; Italy's competition authority orders Meta to exempt Italian users |
| February 9, 2026 | EU issues statement of objections; considers interim measures to force Meta to reverse the ban |
Italy Already Forced Meta's Hand
One detail that strengthens the EU's case: Italy's competition authority already acted. In January 2026, Italy ordered Meta to suspend the chatbot ban for Italian users. Meta complied, carving out an exception specifically for Italy.
This matters because it proves the technical argument is weak. Meta claimed the restrictions were needed to "protect WhatsApp's infrastructure from the technical strain caused by unsupported chatbot integrations." But if Meta can make exceptions for an entire country's users, the infrastructure excuse doesn't hold up.
Meta's Defense: "No Reason to Intervene"
Meta isn't going down without a fight. A Meta spokesperson told the BBC that the EU had "no reason" to intervene and claimed the Commission had "incorrectly" assumed that WhatsApp Business was a key way people use chatbots.
Meta's argument centers on the idea that WhatsApp Business API is primarily a customer service tool, not an AI distribution platform. The company maintains that banning general-purpose AI chatbots is a reasonable platform governance decision, not an anticompetitive move.
But this defense faces serious challenges. The timing — blocking competitors right as Meta AI was expanding — looks like classic self-preferencing. And the fact that Meta AI remained available while ChatGPT and Copilot were kicked off makes the anticompetitive intent hard to deny.
What This Means for the AI Industry
This case could set a critical precedent for how Big Tech platforms interact with AI competitors. Here are the key implications:
1. Platform Gatekeeping Gets Harder
If the EU succeeds, it establishes that dominant platforms cannot selectively exclude AI competitors while promoting their own AI products. This principle would extend well beyond WhatsApp — it could affect how Apple, Google, and Amazon handle AI integration on their platforms.
2. AI Distribution Channels Are Now Protected
The EU is essentially saying that messaging platforms are critical AI distribution infrastructure. Blocking competitors from these channels is treated the same as blocking competitors from an operating system or app store — it's an abuse of dominance.
3. Speed of EU Enforcement Is Increasing
From policy change to statement of objections in about four months is remarkably fast for EU competition enforcement. The Commission is signaling that in fast-moving AI markets, it won't wait years to act. The use of interim measures — if they're imposed — would be a powerful new precedent.
4. AI Agents Need Open Platforms
For developers building AI agents and automation tools, this case reinforces why open, interoperable platforms matter. Whether you're building with Claude Code or any other AI coding tool, the ability to deploy and distribute your work across platforms without arbitrary gatekeeping is essential for innovation.
At Serenities AI, we've been closely tracking how platform policies affect AI agent development and deployment. The EU's action here aligns with a broader trend: regulators are recognizing that the AI ecosystem needs fair competition rules, especially when it comes to distribution and access.
What Happens Next
The ball is now in Meta's court. Here's what to watch for:
- Meta's formal response: The company has the opportunity to respond to the statement of objections before the Commission decides on interim measures
- Interim measures decision: If the Commission imposes them, Meta would be forced to temporarily reverse the ban on third-party AI chatbots while the investigation continues
- Full investigation outcome: The broader antitrust investigation will continue regardless, and could result in fines or permanent requirements
- Ripple effects: Other platforms (Apple, Google) will be watching closely to see how this shapes rules around AI integration on dominant platforms
Legal experts suggest that if interim measures are imposed, Meta may have to reopen WhatsApp to ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI assistants within weeks. Mathias Vermeulen, director at AWO (a law firm specializing in EU digital policies), noted that the preliminary findings show firms operating in the EU cannot use control over one market "to unfairly advantage themselves in another."
The Bigger Picture: AI Competition in 2026
This case doesn't exist in a vacuum. The EU has been on a regulatory tear against Big Tech:
- February 6, 2026: The Commission told TikTok to change its "addictive design" or face heavy fines
- The Digital Markets Act (DMA): Already forcing Apple and Google to open their platforms
- AI Act enforcement: The EU's comprehensive AI regulation is being implemented throughout 2026
What's different about the WhatsApp case is the explicit focus on AI market competition. The Commission isn't just concerned about consumer harm in the traditional sense — it's worried about dominant platforms strangling the AI industry before it even matures.
For developers and businesses working with AI agents, this is encouraging. Whether you're using tools like those covered in our guide on making AI coding agents follow rules with AGENTS.md, or building autonomous AI workflows, a regulatory environment that prevents platform gatekeeping means more room for innovation and competition.
FAQ
Why did Meta block ChatGPT and Copilot from WhatsApp?
In October 2025, Meta updated WhatsApp's Business Solution terms to prohibit third-party companies from using the WhatsApp Business API to distribute general-purpose AI chatbots. Meta stated the API was meant for business customer support, not AI assistant distribution. Critics argue the real motive was eliminating competition with Meta's own AI assistant, Meta AI, which remained available on WhatsApp.
What exactly is the EU doing about it?
The European Commission issued a formal statement of objections on February 9, 2026, accusing Meta of violating EU antitrust laws (Article 102 TFEU) by abusing its dominant position in messaging to exclude AI competitors. The Commission is considering imposing interim measures — rare emergency orders that would force Meta to reverse the ban while the full investigation continues.
Will ChatGPT and Copilot return to WhatsApp?
If the EU imposes interim measures, Meta would likely be forced to allow ChatGPT, Copilot, and other third-party AI assistants back onto WhatsApp within weeks. Italy already forced Meta to make an exception for Italian users in January 2026, so there's precedent for reversal. The final outcome depends on Meta's response and the Commission's decision on emergency measures.
How does this affect AI developers and businesses?
This case sets an important precedent for AI distribution. If the EU succeeds, it establishes that dominant platforms cannot selectively block AI competitors while promoting their own AI products. For developers building AI agents, chatbots, or automation tools, this means more open access to critical distribution channels like messaging platforms.
Could this affect other tech platforms beyond WhatsApp?
Absolutely. The legal principle at stake — that dominant platforms cannot leverage their position to exclude AI competitors — would apply broadly. Apple, Google, and Amazon could face similar scrutiny if they use platform control to favor their own AI products over competitors. Combined with the Digital Markets Act and AI Act, the EU is building a comprehensive framework for AI market competition.