EU Warns Meta Over WhatsApp AI Restrictions and Competition

The European Union has escalated its antitrust scrutiny against Meta Platforms, warning the company about its decision to impose restrictions on artificial intelligence services within WhatsApp. These restrictions, set to take effect on January 15, limit WhatsApp's AI capabilities and effectively bar competitors from developing AI operations on the platform.

The European Commission has formally charged Meta with breaching EU competition rules, outlining its preliminary view that the company's actions distort competition in the digital market. The Commission intends to impose interim measures to prevent serious irreparable harm to the market, highlighting concerns that Meta may unfairly favor its AI services over competitors.

This scrutiny is part of ongoing investigations into Meta, which includes compliance with the 2025 Digital Markets Act. The outcome of the case could lead to significant fines and stricter behavioral remedies for Meta, as it faces pressure to provide EU users with greater control over their data.