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Silicon Republic
EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
The European Union has ordered Meta to allow rival AI assistants access to its WhatsApp platform, emphasizing the need to protect competition during an ongoing antitrust investigation. This decision aims to reverse what the EU identifies as Meta's anticompetitive practices, which included previously blocking third-party AI providers from accessing its Business API. The EU's interim measures will remain effective until the investigation concludes or until June 2029, mitigating potential harm to the competitive AI market while enabling innovation from smaller players.
ExperimentConfidence: HighMid term horizonReputational risk: High
Published 10 Jun 2026, 15:55 UTC4 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
- Order to remain in place until the investigation completes or June 2029
- Meta criticized the EU's decision as regulatory overreach
- Interim measures aim to maintain competition in the AI market
- Meta's past practices included blocking AI provider access to WhatsApp
Interesting facts
- The EU's investigation into Meta began in December last year.
- Meta may face fines up to 10% of its annual global turnover if found guilty of antitrust violations.
- This action aligns with the EU's broader strategy to bolster competition in AI technology.