EU investigating Meta over policy change that bans rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp

Core Viewpoint - Meta's decision to restrict WhatsApp's business API to its own AI chatbot, Meta AI, has prompted an antitrust investigation by the European Commission due to concerns over competition and market access for other AI providers [1][5]. Group 1: Policy Changes - WhatsApp has updated its business API policy to prohibit general-purpose chatbots, effective January, which will limit the availability of AI chatbots from companies like OpenAI and Perplexity on the platform [2][3]. - The new policy does not impact businesses using AI for customer service on WhatsApp, allowing them to continue utilizing the API [3]. Group 2: Regulatory Concerns - The European Commission expressed concerns that Meta's policy could hinder third-party AI providers from offering their services in the European Economic Area (EEA) [3][4]. - The Commission aims to ensure that European citizens and businesses can fully benefit from advancements in AI technology and prevent dominant companies from stifling competition [4]. Group 3: Potential Consequences - If Meta is found to have violated EU antitrust rules, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue, along with possible additional measures [5].