WhatsApp, the widely used messaging service owned by Facebook parent Meta Platforms, is currently facing a formal antitrust investigation by the European Union. Regulators initiated the probe due to significant concerns regarding WhatsApp’s artificial intelligence (AI) policy, particularly its decision to limit access for third-party AI providers on its platform.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the bloc, announced the investigation on Thursday, citing worries that WhatsApp’s recently updated policy could effectively block rival AI companies from offering their AI assistants to users. Conversely, Meta’s own AI chatbot service would remain readily accessible, raising questions about fair competition within the burgeoning AI space. WhatsApp had rolled out its AI chatbot feature for European Union users in March, following earlier delays.

A key aspect of the scrutiny involves new terms and conditions specifically designed for business customers, who utilize AI assistants to facilitate communication with their clientele via WhatsApp. Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s vice president overseeing competition affairs, emphasized the bloc’s commitment to preventing dominant technology companies from stifling innovative competitors.

Ribera stated, “This is why we are investigating if Meta’s new policy might be illegal under competition rules, and whether we should act quickly to prevent any possible irreparable harm to competition in the AI space.” This underscores the urgency and seriousness with which the EU is approaching potential anti-competitive practices by Big Tech.

In response to the allegations, WhatsApp issued a statement asserting that the Commission’s claims are “baseless.” The company argued that the emergence of AI chatbots on its Business API places a strain on its existing systems, which were not originally designed to support such demands. Furthermore, WhatsApp contended that the AI landscape is intensely competitive, and users have numerous avenues to access services of their choice, including through app stores, search engines, email services, partnership integrations, and operating systems.

The comprehensive investigation will extend across all 27 member countries of the European Union, with the exception of Italy, where local authorities have already commenced their own separate inquiry into WhatsApp’s AI policies.