Essence of the decision
EU regulators have officially accused Meta Platforms of abusing its dominant position by restricting third‑party AI assistants' access to WhatsApp, writes Reuters. On January 15 the company allowed only its own AI assistant to operate in the messenger, effectively blocking third‑party chatbots.
The reaction was swift: antitrust authorities in Italy and Brazil reported concerns (although a Brazilian court temporarily suspended its measure). The European Commission is considering the expedited introduction of temporary measures to preserve competitors' access to the platform.
"We cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally use their dominance to gain an unfair advantage."
— Teresa Ribera, head of the EU antitrust committee
Meta's defense
The company rejects the accusations, insisting that the AI‑assistant market remains competitive and that users can turn to alternatives via app stores, operating systems and websites. A Meta spokesperson said the Commission's reasoning allegedly overestimates the role of the WhatsApp Business API as a key channel for chatbots.
"The Commission's logic mistakenly assumes that the WhatsApp Business API is a key distribution channel for these chatbots."
— Meta spokesperson
Why it matters (brief and without emotion)
Competition. If platforms close off channels to third‑party services, this reduces innovative activity and raises barriers to entry for startups — both European and Ukrainian.
Digital security and communications resilience. For Ukraine, messengers are not only a means of communication: they are used by public services, volunteers, media and local IT projects. Control over access to integrations can affect the responsiveness and resilience of such services.
Jurisdiction and precedent. Rapid temporary measures by the EU would send an important signal to other regulators worldwide: if such blocks are applied, global platforms will be forced to adapt business models to stricter European standards.
Context of corporate changes
On January 12 Meta announced the appointment of Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chair. Management changes at large companies are often accompanied by a review of product priorities — this too is part of the puzzle regulators are seeing.
What may happen next
The decision on interim measures will depend on Meta's response and its legal defense, but the Commission's willingness to intervene urgently underscores the bloc's determination to enforce antitrust rules. Experts and regulators believe that if the EU acts, other jurisdictions will follow.
Conclusion
This case is not only about the relationship between the EU and a major tech player. It's about who controls the channels through which AI‑based services are distributed, and what that control means for innovation, security and the sovereignty of digital services. For Ukraine, it is important to follow developments and strengthen its own digital ecosystem so as not to depend on a single delivery channel for critical services.
