On February 9, 2026, the European Commission officially escalated its antitrust battle with Meta, issuing a formal warning that it must reopen WhatsApp to third-party AI assistants.
This move is part of a broader effort under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to prevent “gatekeepers” from leveraging their messaging dominance to crush competition in the nascent AI market.
The Core Conflict: Meta’s “Walled Garden”
The dispute centers on a policy change Meta announced in October 2025 (and enforced in January 2026) that effectively banned third-party, general-purpose AI chatbots from the WhatsApp Business API.
- The Result: Since January 15, Meta AI has been the only general-purpose AI assistant available to users within the app.
- The EU’s View: Regulators argue that because WhatsApp is “critical infrastructure” for communication in Europe, blocking rivals like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or European startups creates “irreparable harm” to the market.
The EU’s “Emergency” Threat
EU Competition Chief Teresa Ribera stated that the Commission is considering interim measures—essentially an emergency legal order—to force Meta to restore access for rivals immediately.
“We cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance… AI markets are developing at a rapid pace, so we also need to be swift in our action.” — Teresa Ribera, February 9, 2026
| Feature | Status |
| Meta’s Position | Argues that WhatsApp is not an “essential gateway” and users can find AI elsewhere (app stores, web). |
| EU’s Demand | Meta must provide interoperability for third-party AI on fair and non-discriminatory terms. |
| Potential Penalty | Fines up to 10% of global revenue (approx. $20B based on FY25 earnings) if Meta refuses to comply. |
Why This Matters for 2026
This case sets a massive precedent for AI distribution. If the EU wins, WhatsApp will transform from a simple messaging app into an open marketplace for AI agents. You would potentially be able to chat with OpenAI’s o1 or Anthropic’s Claude directly within your WhatsApp contact list, just as easily as you message a friend.
Current Exceptions: * Italy: Already imposed its own emergency orders against Meta in December 2025.
- Brazil: A similar move by Brazilian regulators was recently suspended by a court, giving Meta a temporary legal victory outside of Europe.
