European Union competition regulators have accused Meta Platforms of breaching antitrust rules by restricting access to artificial intelligence rivals on WhatsApp, warning that interim measures could be imposed to curb the policy.

The European Commission said the action follows Meta’s decision, implemented on January 15, to allow only its in-house AI assistant, Meta AI, to operate on the messaging platform. Regulators argue that the move could unfairly limit competition in the rapidly growing AI market.

In a statement on Monday, the Commission confirmed it had issued a formal statement of objections to Meta, outlining concerns that the company’s policy violates EU competition rules. The EU executive said it is considering interim measures to prevent what it described as the risk of “serious and irreparable harm” to the market while the investigation continues.

Any decision to impose interim measures will depend on Meta’s response and its right to defend itself under EU law, the Commission added.

The case marks another escalation in Brussels’ efforts to rein in the market power of major U.S. technology companies, particularly in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence.

Source: Reuters