How the EU Forced Meta to Let ChatGPT and Other AI Assistants Back on WhatsApp

In a move that sent shockwaves through the tech industry, Meta banned third-party AI assistants like ChatGPT from WhatsApp in late 2025, only to be forced by the European Commission to reverse course six months later. This is the full story of the ban, the landmark antitrust order that overturned it, and what it means for users and the future of AI competition in Europe.

The Ban: Meta Blocks Rival AI Assistants from WhatsApp

In October 2025, Meta revised its WhatsApp Business Platform policy to prohibit third-party general-purpose AI assistants from operating on WhatsApp, while keeping its own Meta AI assistant available on the platform ^ER. The ban targeted services like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Microsoft's Copilot that businesses had integrated via the WhatsApp Business API to offer AI chatbot support directly within the messaging app ^DF. The new policy took effect on January 15, 2026 ^DF.

The European Commission quickly opened a formal antitrust investigation on December 4, 2025, assessing whether Meta's policy breached EU competition rules by self-preferencing its own AI assistant and foreclosing rival AI providers from WhatsApp's massive user base ^R. Separately, Italy's antitrust authority (AGCM) ordered Meta to exempt Italy from the ban in January 2026 ^B.

The EU's Response: Interim Measures Restore Access

On June 9, 2026, the European Commission imposed interim measures on Meta, ordering it to ^ED:

• Restore free access to WhatsApp's business tools for rival general-purpose AI assistants
• Maintain that access until the conclusion of the full antitrust investigation
• Comply within five working days — Meta was given until roughly June 16, 2026, to reinstate access ^L

Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera announced the decision, stating the Commission found Meta's conduct risked "serious and irreparable harm to competition" in the rapidly growing market for AI assistants ^EW. The order applied across the entire European Economic Area (EEA) — the 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway ^EF.

Meta had previously attempted to stave off the order at a closed hearing in early May 2026, and announced it would appeal the interim measures, calling them "regulatory overreach" ^RY.

ChatGPT Returns to WhatsApp: What EEA Users Can Do Now

Following the EU order, OpenAI reactivated ChatGPT on WhatsApp for the EEA on July 13, 2026 ^W. According to OpenAI's official release notes and multiple news reports, users can ^WTH:

• Add ChatGPT as a WhatsApp contact by saving the verified number 1-800-CHATGPT (+1-800-242-8478) to their phone's address book and messaging it on WhatsApp ^WT
• Use ChatGPT without an account — no separate OpenAI login or app download is required ^WT
• Send text messages to ChatGPT and receive AI-generated replies within WhatsApp ^WY
• Upload images for the AI to analyze ^WY
• Send voice notes that ChatGPT processes ^WY
• Generate images via text prompts ^WY
• Use ChatGPT in multiple languages ^WY
• Link a ChatGPT account for a richer experience (optional) ^W

OpenAI confirmed the availability covers the entire EEA ^WT.

Broader Regulatory and Financial Stakes

This case represents one of the most consequential applications of EU antitrust tools to the intersection of messaging platforms and AI — two markets where Big Tech holds structural advantages. Several high-stakes dimensions stand out:

Fine exposure for non-compliance: If Meta is ultimately found in breach of EU antitrust rules, it faces fines of up to 10% of its global annual turnover — potentially billions of dollars. Periodic penalty payments for non-compliance with the interim measures can also be imposed ^W.

The DMA enforcement precedent: In April 2025, the Commission fined Meta €200 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA) over its "pay or consent" data collection model, and Apple €500 million ^DR. The WhatsApp-AI case tests whether the DMA and traditional antitrust rules together can effectively police self-preferencing in AI distribution — an area the DMA alone may not fully cover ^B.

Platform vs. AI competition: The case is a test of whether dominant messaging platforms (WhatsApp has over 2 billion users globally) can be compelled to act as neutral distribution channels for rival AI services. The Commission's theory is that WhatsApp's "gatekeeper" status in messaging gives Meta the ability and incentive to foreclose competition in the adjacent AI assistant market ^ER.

Broader Big Tech fines in Europe: Since 2024, the EU has levied more than €6 billion (~$7 billion) in fines across six antitrust and DMA cases against Google, Apple, and Meta ^B. The WhatsApp-AI case adds a new dimension — using interim measures to force behavioral change during an investigation, rather than waiting years for a final ruling.

Global regulatory ripple effects: Brazil's antitrust authority (CADE) separately ordered Meta to suspend its AI chatbot ban in January 2026 ^D. The EU's approach could influence how other jurisdictions (UK, India, South Korea) regulate AI distribution on dominant platforms.

Appeal and timeline: Meta is appealing the interim measures, and the underlying antitrust investigation has no statutory deadline ^W. A final ruling could take several years, meaning the restored access for rival AI assistants may remain in place for the duration — or be reversed if Meta wins on appeal.