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The
commission said it was imposing “interim measures” while it
continues its investigation into WhatsApp’s artificial
intelligence policy over concerns the company is breaching EU
law by blocking competitors from offering their AI assistants on
the platform.
Meta said it would appeal.
“The European Commission has decided that OpenAI and some of the
largest companies in the world can use the paid-for WhatsApp
Business product for free," the company said in a statement.
“This is regulatory overreach subsidized by the many European
companies that pay.”
Brussels has occasionally resorted to temporary orders after
facing criticism that previous years-long antitrust
investigations into Big Tech companies were too slow to rein in
their market power.
“AI markets are developing exceptionally fast, and AI assistants
are expected to become an important way for consumers all across
Europe to access and use AI,” the commission’s executive
vice-president overseeing competition, Teresa Ribera, told
reporters in Brussels.
“Therefore, when the damage can happen quickly and there is a
risk of companies being forced to leave the market, we need to
use our tools.”
EU regulators last year began scrutinizing updated terms and
conditions for Meta's business customers using AI assistants to
communicate with customers over WhatsApp.
They were concerned that the agreement prevented third-party AI
companies from offering their assistants on the platform,
leaving only Meta’s chatbot service available to users.
Meta attempted to resolve the probe by charging rivals for
access, but that didn't satisfy regulators, who threatened in
April to force the company to reinstate access for free.
Riber said Meta's fee was so high it was “not economically
sustainable for competitors,” without providing more details.
The commission's order would remain in place until June 2029 or
until the end of the investigation, which has no deadline.
If Meta doesn't comply with the order, it could face fines of up
to 10% of annual revenue.
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