Meta, the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg, faces new scrutiny from the European Commission as it has been warned for potentially violating EU antitrust rules by excluding rival third-party AI assistants from its WhatsApp platform. The European Antitrust Authority has communicated its preliminary findings to Meta, stating that the company may have abused its dominant market position.

The Commission's concerns center around the implications of WhatsApp's policy, which they argue could hinder the entry and expansion of competitors in the rapidly growing AI assistant market. This exclusion of third-party AI technologies could lead to significant and irreversible harm to the market as it prevents diversity and competition from developing. The warning serves as a precursor to possible legal actions and is part of the EU's broader agenda to ensure fair competition in tech markets, particularly for dominant players like Meta.

This situation adds to the ongoing challenges Meta is facing from regulatory bodies in Europe, as the company navigates its compliance with strict EU regulations aimed at promoting competition and protecting consumer rights. The outcome of this case could have profound implications not only for WhatsApp but also for other services and platforms under Meta's umbrella, highlighting the EU's commitment to holding large tech companies accountable for their market practices.