Last week, I reported that ChatGPT and Copilot are removing their services from WhatsApp due to a change in Meta’s policy. That policy is now under scrutiny in the European Union.
The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation to find out if Meta’s rules are hurting the competition. In case you missed it, Meta has updated its terms and conditions, which forbids AI companies from using WhatsApp’s Business API to distribute their services. WhatsApp will allow businesses to use AI tools for providing support or ancillary functions like automated customer support, but third-party AI services are pretty much banned. This policy comes into effect on January 15, 2026. Microsoft and OpenAI have announced that Copilot and ChatGPT will no longer be accessible in the popular messaging app due to the new rules.
The European Commission is concerned about the situation. A press release from the Commission says, “As a result of the new policy, competing AI providers may be blocked from reaching their customers through WhatsApp. On the other hand, Meta’s own AI service ‘Meta AI’ would remain accessible to users on the platform.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that a Meta spokesperson said that the commission’s claims are baseless, stating, “The emergence of AI chatbots on our Business API puts a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support.”
Why not charge a fee for it? That way, everybody wins.
The European Commission’s investigation will cover the EEA except for Italy, to avoid an overlap with the Italian Competition Authority’s ongoing proceedings for the possible imposition of interim measures concerning Meta’s conduct.
WhatsApp has replaced as SMS as the de facto replacement for day-to-day communication for billions of users around the world. It’s almost difficult not to use it if you want to stay in touch with your loved ones. The main problem is people have gotten comfy with WhatsApp, Telegram and don’t feel like moving to secure messaging apps such as Signal. That massive user base is a gold mine for Meta, and we should be concerned about it.
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