EU warns Meta on WhatsApp AI fee policy

The European Commission (EC) warned Meta Platform’s WhatsApp policy of charging a fee for access might still effectively shut out third‑party AI assistants and therefore breach European Union competition rules. The watchdog’s preliminary view is 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 yesterday’s (15 April) supplementary statement of objections, “the Commission 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 “serious and irreparable 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 European Commission 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 told Mobile World Live . “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.” In a separate opening decision, the EC expanded its investigation to Italy, so it now covers the entire European Economic Area. The post EU warns Meta on WhatsApp AI fee policy appeared first on Mobile World Live .