Recently, the European Commission took measures requiring Meta to restore free access to the AI assistant WhatsApp. This was made on June 9 in the local area, to protect the development of the AI market and prevent irreversible damage caused by Meta's actions.
It is understood that the European Commission began an antitrust investigation into Meta's new policy in December 2025. According to this, Meta restricted other AI companies' access to WhatsApp, allowing only certain AI to use the platform. The EU stated that initial evidence suggested Meta may have violated EU competition rules in February 2026, and issued a statement indicating that temporary measures might be necessary to prevent the impact of Meta's policy changes on the market. Subsequently, in March 2026, the commission clearly expressed its intention to order the restoration of third-party assistants' access to WhatsApp. This measure will continue until the antitrust investigation, ensuring a fair competitive environment. Meta's significant power in the social media technology field has been closely monitored. With technological advancements, the EU hopes to maintain a healthy market competition and encourage diversity and innovation.
The EU emphasized that protecting market competition is not only about economic interests but also about consumer choice and technological development. Therefore, Meta needs to comply with EU regulations to ensure competitors can compete under equal conditions.
The decision is not only a response to Meta's policy but also reflects the increasing regulatory focus on tech giants by the EU. In the future, as technology continues to evolve, similar regulatory measures will become more common to maintain fairness in digital markets.
Key Points:
🌐 The EU requires Meta to restore AI assistant access to WhatsApp, protecting the competitive environment.
📅 Since 2025, the EU has launched an antitrust investigation into Meta's new policy, accusing it of violating competition rules.
🔍 Temporary measures will continue until the investigation ends, ensuring fair market competition and technological innovation.
