EU's Antitrust Action Against Meta
The European Commission announced that WhatsApp Business may have violated EU competition rules after an October update removed third‑party AI assistants, leaving Meta’s own AI as the sole option.
The Commission says this could be an abuse of Meta’s dominant position and may impose “interim measures” to prevent irreparable harm to the market.
Meta's Response
Meta argues that the WhatsApp Business API is not a key distribution channel for chatbots and that other AI options remain available to consumers.
“The Commission’s logic incorrectly assumes the WhatsApp Business API is a key distribution channel for these chatbots,” a spokesperson said.
Broader EU Crackdown on Big Tech
Beyond Meta, the EU is gearing up for aggressive enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2026, targeting U.S. tech giants.
- Investigation of X Corp’s Grok chatbot, including a recent Europol‑French police raid on X’s Paris offices.
- Potential action against TikTok for “addictive” features that risk children’s mental health.
Other Ongoing Investigations
The European Union continues to monitor compliance across the sector, with particular focus on:
- AI‑driven services that may lock out competition.
- Platforms that could pose systemic risks to consumer welfare.
Recent Funding Rounds in the Tech Sector
While regulators tighten rules, venture capital remains active:
- Digital‑twin startup Neara raised $63 million to help power companies manage AI‑driven energy demand.
- Private‑cloud provider Oxide Computer secured $200 million in fresh funding to expand its infrastructure offerings.