• EU accuses Meta of stifling AI competition
• Possible interim measures to protect market from WhatsApp policy changes

The EU competition authority charged Meta Platforms on Monday with violating antitrust laws after it blocked AI competitors from operating on its messaging service WhatsApp, warning that temporary measures could be imposed against the U.S. tech giant.

The move follows Meta’s policy, implemented on January 15, allowing only its own AI assistant, Meta AI, to operate on WhatsApp.

The European Commission, responsible for enforcing competition rules in the EU, said it had sent Meta an official statement of objections for breaching the bloc’s regulations.

The Commission added in a statement: “It intends to impose interim measures to prevent this policy change from causing serious and irreparable harm to the market, while respecting Meta’s right to respond and defend itself.”

The Commission confirmed that its decision on interim measures will depend on Meta’s response and its defense rights.