Meta offers free WhatsApp access to rival AI chatbots amid EU probe
Summary
Meta offered rival general-purpose AI chatbots operating in the EEA one month of free access to the WhatsApp Business API as part of ongoing talks with the European Commission to resolve an antitrust probe. The move follows Meta's earlier decision to restrict third-party bots and then require paid access, which prompted objections from EU regulators and complaints from developers about sharply higher costs. The European Commission called the offer a step in the right direction but said further talks will depend on Meta's genuine intention to address competition concerns. If Meta settles the case, it could avoid a formal antitrust ruling and a penalty of up to 10% of global annual revenue, while affected developers continue to warn the pricing model could marginalize smaller AI rivals.