CRBC News
Culture
Society
Security
Health
Conflict
Science
Technology
Politics
Environment
Lifestyle
Economy

EU Readies Antitrust Probe into Meta Over WhatsApp's Built‑in AI

Brussels is preparing an antitrust investigation into Meta’s integration of Meta AI into WhatsApp, focusing on whether the built‑in chatbot gives Meta an unfair advantage. Meta AI was rolled out in March 2025 across Europe. Italy opened a related probe in July, expanded in November to examine potential blocking of rival AI chatbots. The EU case is expected to proceed under traditional antitrust law rather than the Digital Markets Act.

02:08 PM, 12/04/2025Technology
EU Readies Antitrust Probe into Meta Over WhatsApp's Built‑in AI

Brussels is preparing a new antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms over the rollout of artificial intelligence features within WhatsApp, according to two European Union officials. The probe will examine how Meta integrated its Meta AI chatbot and virtual assistant into WhatsApp earlier this year and whether that integration leveraged the company's market position.

Meta AI was added to WhatsApp's interface in March 2025 and is now available across European markets. Regulators are focusing on whether the built‑in AI gives Meta an unfair advantage or restricts competition — including whether rival AI chatbots were prevented from interoperating with the messaging platform.

Italy's antitrust authority opened a related inquiry in July into allegations that Meta used its market power by embedding an AI tool into WhatsApp; that inquiry was expanded in November to investigate claims Meta blocked competing AI chatbots.

Meta said it had not been provided with details of any EU investigation and pointed to an earlier response to the Italian inquiry that the company characterised as "unfounded." The European Commission has not issued a public comment on the matter.

The case is expected to be announced in the coming days, though timing could change. Sources indicate the investigation will proceed under traditional EU antitrust rules rather than the Digital Markets Act, the bloc's flagship law that has already been used to scrutinise potential restrictions in major cloud services.

Note: Reported by Mrinmay Dey and Rishabh Jaiswal; edited by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Nivedita Bhattacharjee.

Similar Articles

Trending