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Meta offers rival AI chatbots free WhatsApp access in Europe, capped to avoid antitrust penalties from EU regulators.
Felecia Smith
Software Trends & Security Analyst
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Rival AI chatbots from OpenAI and Anthropic will get free access to WhatsApp in Europe — but only up to a limit, after which Meta starts charging. The previously unreported offer, submitted to EU antitrust regulators last week, is Meta’s attempt to defuse an escalating standoff with the European Commission, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters’ Foo Yun Chee.
Interested parties had until May 18 to submit feedback before the Commission decides whether to accept the proposal. The dispute traces back to October 2025, when Meta announced it would block third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp’s Business API starting in January 2026. The company introduced a policy allowing only its own Meta AI assistant on the platform, then amended it in March to let rivals in — but only for a fee. That triggered a second charge sheet from EU regulators, who had already been investigating Meta over competition concerns. The Commission had signaled it was preparing to order Meta to open WhatsApp to competing AI services, with the case centered on whether Meta was using its messaging dominance to shut out smaller AI players.
Italy’s competition authority intervened in December 2025 against Meta’s planned ban, warning it could damage competition in the AI market. The European Commission followed in February 2026 with formal objections.
Smaller rivals are unimpressed with Meta’s latest offer. The Interaction Company of California, developer of the Poke.com AI assistant, said in a statement: “Unfortunately, Meta’s current proposal is far from resolving any of the competition concerns identified in this case.”
Agentik founder Jeremy Andre told Reuters the offer discriminates against rivals because it would not apply to Meta’s own AI chatbot, though Meta’s AI does not use WhatsApp’s API. The offer buys Meta time as the company pursues a settlement that could help it avoid a formal antitrust ruling and a penalty of up to 10% of its global annual revenue under EU competition rules. The Commission called the offer “a step in the right direction” but warned that talks depend on “Meta’s genuine intention to address the Commission’s concerns.”
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