EU orders Meta to keep WhatsApp open to rival AI chatbots during probe
The interim measure gives Meta five days to preserve rival AI chatbot access to WhatsApp as the European Commission examines whether its conduct could distort competition.
Fact Check
The European Commission's Competition Policy news page directly confirms a 9 June 2026 decision imposing interim measures on Meta to preserve free WhatsApp access for rival AI assistants. Reuters independently corroborates the five-working-days deadline and ongoing probe context. The crypto.news article aligns with both primary and reputable secondary sources.
Summary
EU antitrust regulators have ordered Meta to keep rival AI chatbots connected to WhatsApp for free and, under the interim measure, to do so within five days while the competition investigation continues. The European Commission said the step is meant to preserve market conditions as Brussels examines Meta’s policy toward competing AI assistants and whether that conduct may violate antitrust rules. The order could alter the competitive balance by supporting smaller AI firms and testing Meta’s position in messaging services.
Terms & Concepts
- antitrust rules: Competition laws that curb market abuse
- interim measure: A temporary regulatory order that applies while an investigation is still ongoing
- AI assistants: Chatbots or software tools that use artificial intelligence to interact with users