Brussels is getting tough on Meta, ordering it to open up WhatsApp to AI competitors for free. Millions of sanctions for the giant are also at stake.
The European Commission has ordered the company Meta to temporarily make the WhatsApp platform available to developers of competing artificial intelligence systems free of charge within five working days, the DPA and AFP agencies, referred to by TASR, reported. If Meta does not comply with the order, it faces a high financial penalty.
- The European Commission has ordered Meta to temporarily make WhatsApp available to rival developers for free.
- Meta must allow rival AI assistants access to WhatsApp during the investigation.
- Failure to comply with the order may bring heavy financial sanctions to Meta from the union.
- The temporary measure is intended to protect competition in the market for artificial intelligence assistants.
- The investigation is in response to last year’s restriction of competitors’ access to WhatsApp.
According to the European Commission, this is part of an ongoing antitrust investigation, which concerns restrictions on the access of rival AI assistants to WhatsApp. Brussels is investigating whether the actions of the American company may be in conflict with the rules of the European Union in the field of economic competition.
Protection of competition
EC executive vice-president Teresa Riberová explained that the commission is asking Meta to restore the access of competing AI assistants to the WhatsApp application until the investigation is over. The aim is to check whether the established restrictions do not violate European antitrust rules.
At the same time, Riberová emphasized that the adopted temporary measure is intended to protect competition in the rapidly growing market of artificial intelligence assistants. She described maintaining access to WhatsApp as crucial, as it is an important communication channel to reach consumers in Europe and a space for innovative companies to develop and use their full potential.
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According to the decision of the European Commission, the parent company Meta, which also owns the Facebook and Instagram platforms, must comply with the regulation within five working days.
The commission began investigating Meta after the US technology group announced last year that it would restrict access to WhatsApp for rival AI providers. Brussels is now assessing whether such a procedure could harm competition in the digital services market in the EU.
