EU seeks interim measures to stop Meta Platforms blocking third‑party AI on WhatsApp Business API

EU moves to block Meta from locking out third‑party AI on WhatsApp

Brussels says it intends to impose interim measures to stop Meta Platforms from excluding third‑party AI assistants from WhatsApp, signaling a preliminary view that the company breaches EU antitrust rules. The European Commission is considering legally binding steps to preserve competitors’ access to the WhatsApp Business API under the pre‑policy terms while its probe continues, aiming to avoid irreversible harm to contestability and consumer choice in messaging AI markets.

Commissioner for Competition Teresa Ribera emphasizes the need to prevent dominant tech firms from leveraging market power to gain unfair advantages as AI markets develop rapidly. The case centers on Meta’s October update to WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, which regulators say effectively bans general‑purpose third‑party AI assistants; the policy took effect in January. The Commission stresses the measures are preliminary, subject to Meta’s reply and judicial review, and are designed to maintain the status quo while the investigation proceeds.

Meta pushes back, saying there is no reason for EU intervention in the WhatsApp Business API and arguing alternative distribution channels exist through app stores, operating systems, devices and partnerships. The move follows a wave of EU enforcement actions against large tech firms in 2025 and adds to regulatory pressure as Meta rolls out new AI products and expands its infrastructure investments. A swift imposition of interim measures would mark a significant test of how EU competition authorities manage fast‑moving AI developments in messaging platforms.

Threads personalisation test underscores broader AI push

Meta is rolling out “Dear Algo,” an AI‑driven feature on Threads that lets users publish a public post directing the recommendation algorithm about what they want to see; requests temporarily adjust an individual’s feed for three days. The company begins testing in the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand, and continues to add AI features across Facebook as it pilots new consumer controls and prepares to monetise Threads with ads.

Wearables partnership scales as demand rises

EssilorLuxottica reports sales of more than 7 million Meta‑powered smart glasses, up sharply from prior years, and is discussing plans to more than double production to meet demand. The surge in wearable sales highlights an expanding hardware ecosystem tied to Meta’s AI ambitions and underscores commercial traction for augmented reality devices.