Meta is making a new move in the fast-growing AI race, and this time WhatsApp is at the center of it.
The company has reportedly offered rival AI chatbots limited free access to WhatsApp in Europe while it works through mounting pressure from EU regulators. But smaller competitors say the proposal still gives Meta an unfair advantage. The latest dispute highlights how aggressively Europe is now policing competition in artificial intelligence and digital markets, as per a report by Reuters.
The reported offer comes at a time when Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, is facing increasing scrutiny from the European Union over competition in artificial intelligence and digital services.
Why is the EU pressuring Meta?
Reuters reported that Meta submitted the proposal to EU antitrust regulators last week after the European Commission considered ordering the company to provide competitors access to WhatsApp while the broader investigation continues.
The Commission is examining whether Meta’s control over platforms like WhatsApp could give its own AI services an unfair advantage over rivals trying to compete in the rapidly expanding AI assistant market.
Interested parties were reportedly given until May 18 to respond before regulators decide whether the proposal should move forward, as per a report by Reuters.
The European Commission declined detailed comment, but repeated that its focus remains on keeping the AI assistant market “open and competitive for innovators.”
How would the WhatsApp access work?
Under the proposal described by Reuters, rival AI chatbots — including companies such as OpenAI — would initially receive free access to WhatsApp through the platform’s business API.
An API is a software interface that allows different systems to communicate with one another.
However, according to sources familiar with the matter, Meta would begin charging competitors once they crossed a limit tied to the number of messages being sent to users.
Meta previously said it had already provided free access to rival AI chatbots in Europe for one month while discussions with EU regulators continued.
The company also confirmed earlier that rivals could eventually use WhatsApp for a fee.
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What are smaller AI companies saying?
Some smaller competitors say the proposal still falls short. The Interaction Company of California, which develops the Poke.com AI assistant, criticized the offer in comments reported by Reuters.
“Unfortunately, Meta's current proposal is far from resolving any of the competition concerns identified in this case,” the company said.
It also urged the European Commission to move ahead with interim measures if Meta does not submit a more meaningful proposal quickly.
French startup Agentik raised another concern, arguing that the proposal discriminates against rivals because Meta’s own AI assistant does not rely on WhatsApp’s API in the same way outside companies would.
The dispute traces back to January, when Meta introduced a policy allowing only its own Meta AI assistant on WhatsApp. Reuters reported that Meta later changed the policy in March, opening the door for rival services to access the platform for a fee.
That move reportedly triggered another charge sheet from EU regulators, prompting Meta to temporarily suspend fees while negotiations continued.
As competition in AI becomes more intense, the fight over WhatsApp access is quickly turning into a bigger battle over who controls the future of digital assistants.
FAQs
What is Meta offering rival AI chatbots?
Limited free WhatsApp access before usage fees begin.
Why are EU regulators involved?
The European Commission is investigating competition concerns around Meta and WhatsApp.
