Overview
Meta Platforms has presented a proposal to European Union antitrust authorities to permit rival AI chatbots access to its WhatsApp messaging service in Europe without immediate charges, according to two people familiar with the matter. The arrangement would allow competing chatbots to use the WhatsApp Business Application Programming Interface (API) free of charge until they exceed a not-specified message limit, at which point Meta would begin billing them.
What Meta submitted
Last week Meta formally submitted the offer to the European Commission after the regulator indicated it was considering an order that could require Meta to open WhatsApp to competitors while the Commission completes an ongoing investigation. The proposal was provided to the Commission for feedback, with interested parties given until May 18 to respond, the sources said. Neither Meta nor the Commission provided public details about the precise terms of the offer beyond the general structure described by the sources.
Context and regulatory backdrop
The case highlights the Commission's focus on maintaining competition in emerging digital markets by attempting to prevent dominant platforms from consolidating market power or limiting rivals' ability to compete. The European Commission declined to comment on the specifics of Meta's proposal, reiterating that its priority is to keep the market for AI assistants open and competitive for innovators. The Commission said the proposal should allow room for further discussions to address its concerns.
Meta's position and recent policy changes
Meta confirmed earlier remarks that it has already given rival AI chatbots in Europe free access to WhatsApp's Business API for a month while discussions with EU regulators continue. The company previously introduced a policy in January that restricted use of WhatsApp to only its Meta AI assistant. In March Meta amended that policy, stating rivals could use the messaging app for a fee. That change prompted a second charge sheet from the EU watchdog, after which Meta suspended fees for a one-month period while it negotiated its offer with the Commission.
Reactions from rival developers
Smaller developers who have complained to the Commission were critical of Meta's proposal. The Interaction Company of California, creator of the Poke.com AI assistant, said in a statement that Meta's current offer does not resolve the competition concerns identified in the case and urged the Commission to consider interim measures if Meta did not present a constructive alternative quickly. France-based startup Agentik also dismissed the proposal, with its founder Jeremy Andre arguing the offer discriminates against rivals because it would not apply to Meta's own AI. The article notes that Meta's AI chatbot does not use WhatsApp's API.
How the proposal would work
Under the terms described to the sources, the proposal would provide initial free access to the WhatsApp Business API for competing AI chatbots operating in Europe. Once a rival exceeds a threshold measured by messages sent to users, Meta would start applying fees. The specific threshold and fee schedule were not disclosed to the sources, and no additional figures or timelines were made public by Meta or the Commission in the information provided.
Implications for AI assistants and messaging services
Allowing rivals to connect to WhatsApp's API, even temporarily and on a capped basis, touches on the core commercial dynamics for AI assistants that rely on high-frequency messaging to serve users. Access to a widely used messaging channel can influence user adoption and retention by enabling assistants to reach users where they already communicate. But imposing fees after a usage limit introduces a direct commercial barrier that smaller firms contend could hamper competition if their usage scales.
Next steps
The Commission will review feedback from interested parties submitted by the May 18 deadline and decide whether to accept Meta's offer or pursue other measures. The proposal, as described, leaves open further negotiation between Meta, its competitors, and the regulator as the Commission weighs how best to preserve competitive conditions in the market for AI assistants.