Exclusion of AI Competitors from WhatsApp

The European Commission formally opened antitrust proceedings on 4 December 2025 against Meta Platforms, Inc. for allegedly excluding AI competitors from its WhatsApp service. The investigation is conducted under Article 102 TFEU (abuse of dominant position) and Article 54 EEA (European Economic Area agreement), with proceedings updated by a further decision on 15 April 2026. This represents an active EC enforcement matter in the digital markets space.

Technology companies operating messaging platforms or developing AI services in the EU should monitor this case closely. While the initiation of proceedings does not constitute a finding of infringement, an adverse outcome could affect how dominant digital platforms manage third-party access to their services. Meta and similarly positioned digital platforms with significant market power in messaging or AI services may face heightened scrutiny regarding access policies and interoperability arrangements.