The European Commission on Monday, February 9, 2026, issued a statement of objections to Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging the tech giant violated European Union antitrust rules. The commission asserts that Meta prevented third-party artificial intelligence (AI) assistant programs from accessing and interacting with WhatsApp users.
This action follows preliminary findings by the Commission, which indicated that Meta, likely dominant in the European Economic Area market, abused its position by denying WhatsApp access to other companies, including those developing third-party AI assistants. The move underscores the increasing scrutiny of large technology firms and their control over access to user data.
Based on these findings, the Commission intends to impose interim measures to prevent the policy change from causing significant and irreparable harm to the market. The Commission’s intervention signals a proactive approach to maintaining competition within the digital landscape.
Meta has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. The European Commission’s investigation highlights the growing tension between tech companies and regulators over data access and the development of AI technologies.
