European Commission approves investigation into WhatsApp’s use of AI
Marks latest broadside against Big Tech by EU regulator
Italy opened a parallel probe earlier this year
BRUSSELS, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Brussels has launched a new antitrust investigation into Metaplatform (META.O).opens a new tab The European Commission said on Thursday the rollout of artificial intelligence capabilities on WhatsApp, reflecting increased scrutiny of Big Tech companies’ use of generative AI.
The move, first reported by Reuters and the Financial Times, marks the latest action by European regulators against big technology companies, as the European Union seeks to balance support for the sector with efforts to curb its growing influence.
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The European Commission launched an investigation into “Meta’s new policy regarding AI providers’ access to WhatsApp” after the California-based company integrated its Meta AI system into its messaging service earlier this year.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said that “the claims are baseless,” adding that the emergence of chatbots on the company’s platform is “straining a system it was not designed to support.”
This illustration taken on October 27, 2025 shows the WhatsApp app icon on a smartphone. Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration purchase license rightopens a new tab
“Still, the AI space is highly competitive, and people have many ways to access their preferred services, including app stores, search engines, email services, partnership integrations, and operating systems.”
Meta AI, a chatbot and virtual assistant, has been integrated into the WhatsApp interface across European markets since March 2025.
Italy’s antitrust watchdog launched a parallel investigation in July into allegations that Meta used its market power by integrating AI tools into WhatsApp. The investigation expanded in November to investigate whether Meta further abused its dominance by blocking competing AI chatbots from its messaging platform.
The EU investigation will be conducted under traditional antitrust law, rather than the EU’s landmark Digital Markets Act, which is currently being used to scrutinize Amazon (AMZN.O), the FT said, citing people familiar with the matter.opens a new tab and Microsoft (MSFT.O)opens a new tab Cloud services for potential suppression.
Report from Bangalore by Fu Yunqi, Mrinmei Dey and Rishabh Jaiswal. Written by Adam Jordan. Editing: Mrigank Dhaniwala, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Louise Heavens
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An agenda-setting and market-moving journalist, Foo Yun Chi is a 21-year veteran of Reuters. Her coverage of high-profile mergers has boosted the European Telecommunications Index, boosted company stock prices and helped investors decide their next move. His knowledge and experience in European antitrust law and developments has helped him with breakout stories involving Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, numerous market-moving mergers, and antitrust investigations. She has previously reported on Greek politics and business, which has surpassed its power on the international stage with Greece’s membership in the eurozone, as well as on the huge Dutch companies and the peculiarities of Dutch society and culture that have captivated readers.
