• The EU has warned Meta to allow rival AI chatbots access to WhatsApp.
• Meta's changes since January 15 restrict access solely to its own AI assistant.
• The European Commission claims this violates competition rules.
• Failure to comply may result in interim measures to ensure competition.
• Meta denies wrongdoing, asserting there are many viable AI options beyond WhatsApp.

The European Union (EU) has instructed Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, to permit rival AI chatbots access to its messaging platform. The warning follows an investigation revealing that Meta had breached competition rules by restricting third-party AI chatbots from accessing WhatsApp as of January 15, 2023. Teresa Ribera, the EU's competition chief, stated that WhatsApp serves as a crucial entry point for AI services and Meta's actions are seen as an abuse of its dominant market position, potentially causing "serious and irreparable harm" to competition in Europe, according to Le Monde and BBC.

The Commission has expressed its intent to impose interim measures should Meta fail to respond adequately to its findings. Such measures could require Meta to restore access for third-party AI applications to avoid further harm to market competition. This intervention reflects a broader EU effort to ensure fair practices among major tech companies and follows similar scrutiny aimed at platforms like TikTok, indicating the EU's growing vigilance of Big Tech actions, as highlighted by India Times and BBC.

Meta has pushed back against the EU's findings, arguing that the Commission's conclusions are unfounded. A spokesperson for the company claimed there are numerous avenues for consumers to access AI services beyond WhatsApp, including app stores and various devices. "There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and industry partnerships," said the spokesperson. This counterargument emphasizes Meta's view that its restriction on chatbots is not a significant impediment to competition, as reported by Le Monde and India Times.