## EU Probes Meta Over WhatsApp AI Bot Ban
The European Union has launched an investigation into Meta’s recent policy change for WhatsApp, which prohibits the integration of rival artificial intelligence chatbots on the platform.
EU antitrust regulators are scrutinizing the move, concerned that it could stifle competition and innovation in the rapidly expanding AI market. Critics argue that by blocking third-party AI chatbots, Meta is potentially abusing its dominant market position by leveraging WhatsApp’s vast user base to give its own AI offerings an unfair advantage.
The probe will assess whether Meta’s new policy violates EU competition rules, with potential implications including substantial fines and a demand for the policy’s reversal if found to be anti-competitive. The investigation underscores the EU’s ongoing efforts to ensure fair play in the digital economy, particularly regarding major tech platforms.