Meta Platforms defended itself Tuesday before European Union antitrust officials, hoping to prevent a regulatory order that would force the company to open WhatsApp to competing artificial intelligence chatbots.
The closed-door hearing in Brussels came after the European Commission issued Meta an additional charge sheet last month detailing its enforcement plans. This represents part of temporary measures while EU investigators examine whether Meta misuses its dominant market position, potentially leading to significant financial penalties. A final decision on the order is expected within months.
On January 15, Meta implemented a new policy restricting WhatsApp to only its own Meta AI assistant. The company later modified this approach in March, announcing that competitor AI services could access the messaging platform for a fee.
This policy change prompted EU regulators to file a second charge against Meta, building on an initial February complaint regarding potential emergency actions to prevent the company from shutting out AI competitors.
Meta attorney Tim Lamb and additional legal counsel attended the Brussels proceedings, while company executives in the United States participated virtually in the four-hour session.
The social media giant restated its earlier position, claiming EU antitrust authorities are misusing their regulatory power to help major global corporations access WhatsApp Business services without payment.
“This means that a small bakery in France paying to use the service to take croissant orders will be picking up the tab for OpenAI. Small European businesses shouldn’t foot OpenAI’s bill,” a Meta spokesperson said.
European Commission Deputy Director-General for Antitrust Linsey McCallum and director Carlota Reyners Fontana refused to provide statements as they entered the hearing.
The Interaction Company of California, which created the Poke.com AI assistant and filed the original complaint, also participated in Tuesday’s proceedings.
“Meta is seeking to monopolize the use of WhatsApp for AI services by reserving it to its own offerings and excluding competitors like us,” Felix Schlegel, co-founder and CTO of The Interaction Company of California, said ahead of the hearing.
“We welcome the Commission’s action and its consideration of interim measures. At the hearing, we will make clear that these measures are necessary and should be adopted without delay,” he said.
According to sources familiar with the matter, OpenAI and French artificial intelligence startup Simone were also listed as hearing participants.
