5 questions about the EU’s order to Meta over WhatsApp AI access

1. What did European Union regulators order Meta to do?

The European Commission ordered Meta to restore access to WhatsApp for rival artificial intelligence chatbot makers, citing concerns that Meta was blocking competitors from offering their AI assistants on the platform and leaving only Meta’s own chatbot available to users.

2. Why did regulators act now rather than wait for a full investigation?

The Commission cited the unusually fast pace of AI market development, warning that competitors could be forced out of the market before a lengthy investigation concluded. The body has faced past criticism for taking years to resolve Big Tech antitrust cases, and used “interim measures” to prevent competitive harm in the meantime.

3. How has Meta responded?

Meta said it would appeal the ruling, arguing that the order effectively forces it to give OpenAI and other large companies free access to its paid WhatsApp Business product — a cost it called “regulatory overreach subsidized by the many European companies that pay.”

4. What happened to Meta’s attempt to resolve the issue on its own?

Meta had tried to satisfy regulators by charging rivals for platform access, but regulators rejected that approach. EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said Meta’s proposed fee was so high it was “not economically sustainable for competitors.”

5. How long will the order last, and what are the consequences for noncompliance?

The interim order will remain in effect until June 2029 or until the investigation concludes, whichever comes first. If Meta fails to comply, it could face fines of up to 10% of its annual revenue.

For more on this report, read “EU orders Meta to restore WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots” from The Associated Press, published on The Washington Times.