EU Orders Meta to Reinstate Rival AI Assistants on WhatsApp
The European Commission has decided to order Meta Platforms to allow rival AI assistants on WhatsApp without an access fee to ensure fair competition, as their current policy appears to infringe EU competition rules. Interim measures will remain until the investigation concludes, expanding its probe to Italy.
The European Commission announced its decision on Wednesday to instruct Meta Platforms to reinstate rival artificial intelligence assistants on WhatsApp. This follows the U.S. tech company's introduction of an access fee, which the Commission argues breaches EU competition regulations by excluding third-party AI assistants.
The EU's executive body aims to prevent significant damage to competition by requiring Meta to restore previous access conditions for AI assistants by October 2025. This move occurs after Meta expressed intent to restrict third-party AI chatbots on the WhatsApp Business platform.
Meta claims that the EU's decision unfairly shifts the financial burden onto small businesses. Meanwhile, the Commission's investigation has expanded to Italy, following a probe by the Italian competition watchdog.
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