04.12.2025 17:56:00
Дата публикации
The European Commission is preparing to launch a new antitrust investigation into Meta due to the integration of its artificial intelligence system, Meta AI, into the WhatsApp messenger.
According to Reuters, EU authorities had planned to begin the review earlier this year, but the process was delayed. The investigation may now be announced in the coming days, though the timing could change.
Meta AI is a chatbot and virtual assistant built into the WhatsApp interface, operating in European markets since March 2025 as part of the updated service.
Meta stated that it has not yet received any notification from the Commission and referred to WhatsApp’s earlier comments during the Italian investigation, calling the accusations “unfounded.”
Italy’s antitrust authority began its own probe in July, suspecting Meta of leveraging market power in integrating AI into WhatsApp. In autumn, the scope of the investigation was expanded.
Italian regulators were particularly interested in whether Meta might have abused its dominant position by blocking access for competing AI chatbots to the WhatsApp platform.
The planned EU investigation will be conducted not under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), but under traditional antitrust rules.
This approach means regulators will assess possible restrictions on competition rather than general digital regulation requirements, as seen in cases against Amazon and Microsoft.
The European Commission declined to comment for the Financial Times and did not respond to Reuters, leaving details unofficial.
Nevertheless, the very preparation of the probe highlights the EU’s growing focus on generative AI deployment on major platforms and the potential risks for competition in the digital market.
According to Reuters, EU authorities had planned to begin the review earlier this year, but the process was delayed. The investigation may now be announced in the coming days, though the timing could change.
Meta AI is a chatbot and virtual assistant built into the WhatsApp interface, operating in European markets since March 2025 as part of the updated service.
Meta stated that it has not yet received any notification from the Commission and referred to WhatsApp’s earlier comments during the Italian investigation, calling the accusations “unfounded.”
Italy’s antitrust authority began its own probe in July, suspecting Meta of leveraging market power in integrating AI into WhatsApp. In autumn, the scope of the investigation was expanded.
Italian regulators were particularly interested in whether Meta might have abused its dominant position by blocking access for competing AI chatbots to the WhatsApp platform.
The planned EU investigation will be conducted not under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), but under traditional antitrust rules.
This approach means regulators will assess possible restrictions on competition rather than general digital regulation requirements, as seen in cases against Amazon and Microsoft.
The European Commission declined to comment for the Financial Times and did not respond to Reuters, leaving details unofficial.
Nevertheless, the very preparation of the probe highlights the EU’s growing focus on generative AI deployment on major platforms and the potential risks for competition in the digital market.
