EC Warns Meta on AI Fee Policy in WhatsApp

The European Commission issued a warning to Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp on its policy of charging a fee for access. The EC said that it might still effectively shut out third‑party AI assistants and therefore breach EU competition rules.

The EC’s preliminary view is that Meta’s revised policy of reinstating access only with a fee is effectively the same as the earlier ban and could shut out competitors in the growing AI assistant market. In a supplementary statement of objections, the EC notified Meta that the revised policy seems to have the same effect of excluding third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp and thus appears at first sight to be in breach of EU competition rules.

To prevent harm to competition while the investigation continues, the EC plans interim measures, ordering Meta to restore access for rival AI assistants on the same terms as before 15 October 2025 and lasting until the case ends. “The EC is proposing to use its regulatory powers to enable some of the largest companies in the world to use the paid-for WhatsApp Business product for free,” a Meta representative said. “This means that a small bakery in France paying to use the service to take croissant orders will be picking up the tab for OpenAI. Small European businesses shouldn’t foot OpenAI’s bill.”