EU Orders Meta to Restore Free WhatsApp Access for Rival AI Assistants

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The European Commission issued interim measures on June 9, 2026, ordering Meta to reinstate free access for competing general-purpose AI assistants via the WhatsApp Business API. The order reverses conditions Meta introduced after October 15, 2025, when it first restricted rival assistants, and again in March 2026, when it reintroduced access but added a fee the Commission deemed equally restrictive. Meta was given five working days to comply, though the measure is temporary and applies only while the underlying antitrust investigation remains open. The order covers only competing general-purpose AI assistants distributed through the Business API in Europe, not Meta's own products, standard business chatbots, or users outside the region. Actual availability for end users still depends on individual providers completing onboarding, reopening regional registration, and meeting Meta's account eligibility requirements.

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