EU orders Meta to restore free access to AI rivals in WhatsApp

WhatsApp will soon have to offer a choice of AI assistants to users, at least in Europe.The European Commission (EC) has ordered platform owner Meta to restore free access to rival general purpose AI assistants in WhatsApp. This is an interim measure until the European Union's executive body finishes its antitrust investigation; though, drawing from previous similar cases, it's likely that the decision stays for good.Meta started blocking third party AI assistants in WhatsApp back in Oct. 2025,