What’s new: The European Commission has mandated that Meta restore access to third-party chatbots in WhatsApp for free, following a ban imposed by the company. This decision is part of an ongoing antitrust investigation into Meta’s practices, which the EC believes may infringe on EU competition rules. The order requires Meta to maintain this access until a final decision is reached, reverting to the status quo prior to October 2025.
Who’s affected
This decision impacts developers of third-party chatbots who previously faced restrictions in accessing WhatsApp’s API. It also affects users who rely on various AI assistants for enhanced communication experiences within the app.
What to do
- Developers should prepare to integrate their chatbots back into WhatsApp without incurring fees.
- Users can expect to see a wider variety of AI assistants available in WhatsApp as third-party access is restored.
- Stay informed about the progress of the EC’s antitrust investigation and any further developments regarding Meta’s policies.
