Meta offers rival AI chatbots free WhatsApp access in Europe but plans to charge beyond limits
Meta said it has already given rival AI chatbots a month of free access to WhatsApp's business API in Europe
Meta Platforms has proposed giving rival AI chatbots — including OpenAI — free access to its WhatsApp messaging service in Europe, whilst reserving the right to charge them once they exceed a set usage threshold.
The proposal
The offer was submitted to EU antitrust regulators last week, following a signal from the European Commission that it was considering ordering Meta to provide rivals with access to WhatsApp while an ongoing investigation into the matter is concluded. Neither side disclosed the specific terms of the offer at the time.
Under the proposal, rival AI chatbots would receive free access to WhatsApp's business Application Programming Interface (API) — the software interface that governs how two systems interact — up to a defined limit on messages sent to users. Once that limit is reached, Meta would begin charging for continued access.
Why the offer was made
The move reflects Meta's attempt to satisfy increasingly stringent EU regulators who are bearing down on Big Tech's market power in new digital spaces.
The European Commission's broader investigation centres on whether Meta is using its control of WhatsApp to prevent smaller competitors from competing fairly in emerging AI-driven markets.
Interested parties were given until 18 May to submit feedback to the Commission, which will now determine whether to accept Meta's proposal.
A temporary measure already in place
Meta noted that it has already extended a month of free WhatsApp business API access to rival AI chatbots in Europe whilst it works towards a longer-term resolution with regulators.
Rivals unimpressed
Smaller competitors have reacted coolly to the proposal. "Unfortunately, Meta's current proposal is far from resolving any of the competition concerns identified in this case," said The Interaction Company, a California-based firm, in a statement — signalling that the offer is unlikely to satisfy those pushing for more meaningful access to the platform.
