The European Commission has ordered Meta to once again allow third-party AI chatbots to operate on WhatsApp free of charge, marking a significant development in its ongoing antitrust investigation into the company.

Meta had blocked third-party AI assistants from accessing WhatsApp in late 2025 while continuing to promote its own built-in AI services. The European Commission launched an investigation in December, arguing that the move may have unfairly restricted competition in the rapidly growing AI market.

According to the Commission, Meta holds a dominant position in the consumer messaging market across the European Economic Area and may have abused that position by preventing rival AI assistants from accessing the WhatsApp Business API.

Although Meta partially reversed its policy in March by allowing third-party AI assistants back onto the platform, it introduced access fees. The Commission determined that charging for access effectively produced the same competitive barriers as the original ban.

As a result, the EU has imposed interim measures requiring Meta to restore the previous arrangement that existed before October 2025, when third-party AI chatbots could access WhatsApp without paying fees.

The Commission says the decision is intended to prevent “serious and irreparable harm” to competition while the broader antitrust investigation continues. Meta must maintain free access for rival AI assistants until a final ruling is issued.

The case highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny of major technology companies as AI becomes a key battleground. If the Commission ultimately rules against Meta, the decision could set an important precedent for how dominant platforms must treat competing AI services in Europe.