US EditionMeta to allow AI rivals on WhatsApp in bid to stave off EU action
- Meta announced on Thursday it will support general-purpose AI chatbots via the WhatsApp Business API in Europe for 12 months, giving the European Commission time to conclude its investigation and removing the need for immediate intervention.
- The European Commission had warned it would seek interim measures after Meta's January 15, 2026 policy barred third-party AI chatbot providers from the WhatsApp Business API, prompting complaints and probes in the EU, Italy, and Brazil.
- Meta will charge AI chatbot providers €0.0490 to €0.1323 per non-template message, which could be costly as conversations usually comprise dozens of messages, but it exempts businesses using AI for customer service.
- A European Commission spokesperson said the Commission is analysing how the changes impact its interim measures investigation and broader antitrust probe, following a similar move in January in Italy.
- Regulators noted the move amid concerns that Meta also runs Meta AI on WhatsApp, while earlier rules barred chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and Poke from the API.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Bannis since 15 January, AIs like ChatGPT will be able to return to WhatsApp in the EU, provided their owners pay a fee. Meta ended up reversing after the European Commission threatened to impose interim measures on her to prevent such a...
The US Internet group Meta allows AI chatbots from competitors on WhatsApp under pressure from the European Union. This measure is limited to twelve months, the Facebook mother announced on Thursday. In addition, the rivals have to pay a fee for access. The EU Commission announced that it would investigate possible effects on the ongoing cartel investigations. A few weeks ago, the authorities had threatened Meta with interim measures because the…
Meta opens WhatsApp Business API to AI chatbots in Europe amid EU antitrust scrutiny
The move comes after the European Commission last month told Meta it was considering temporary measures to prevent the company from enforcing a policy blocking third-party AI chatbot providers from operating through the WhatsApp Business API. Meta’s policy, which came into effect on January 15, drew complaints from several AI assistant providers who said blocking access to the API disrupted their businesses and raised competition concerns.
Pressed by the European regulators, Meta reverses WhatsApp and again allows competing IA chatbots. A temporary retro-pedaling in Europe that is not without counterpart.
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