The European Commission ordered Meta to restore WhatsApp access to rival AI‑assistant builders. Brussels argues that emergency action is required before a full antitrust probe finishes, citing the rapid rise of autonomous agents. The move marks one of the EU’s first major interventions in the autonomous‑agent market.

The investigation falls under traditional antitrust rules, not the Digital Markets Act, because it concerns WhatsApp’s dominance in a niche AI‑assistant niche. EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said competition can vanish before a verdict arrives. She warned that big incumbents should not leverage past dominance to block new entrants for users and developers in Europe.

Meta plans to monetize WhatsApp through its new business agent, letting enterprises deploy AI responders. Brussels fears Meta will favor its own OpenAI‑powered services. The interim order follows last December’s probe into the app’s alleged favoritism. Meta will appeal, arguing the decision imposes regulatory overreach that subsidises competitors paying for WhatsApp Business subscriptions and growth.

The ruling signals Brussels’ intent to curb dominance in the emerging autonomous‑agent arena. Companies like Interaction, maker of Poke.com, welcomed the decision, citing fair competition. EU regulators face pressure from US tech giants and political scrutiny. The outcome will shape how AI services integrate with messaging platforms and set precedents for future antitrust cases today.