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European Commission

Meta company logo, subject of European Commission action over WhatsApp AI chatbot restrictions

EU Considers Interim Measures Over Meta Blocking Rival AI Chatbots On WhatsApp

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EU antitrust authority signals possible actions to force opening WhatsApp to rival AI assistants.


The European Commission notified Meta Platforms that it may impose interim measures under European Union competition rules over Meta’s policy that restricts third-party AI assistants on its WhatsApp messaging service.

The Commission sent Meta a “Statement of Objections” outlining its preliminary view that Meta’s updated terms and conditions for WhatsApp Business may breach EU antitrust rules by denying access to competing AI assistants and allowing only its own “Meta AI” assistant on the platform. The policy took effect on January 15, following Meta’s October 2025 update.

Under EU competition law, interim measures are temporary actions that can be imposed before the final conclusion of a formal investigation if there is a risk of “serious and irreparable harm.” The Commission said it is considering measures to preserve competitors’ access to WhatsApp while the investigation continues.

The action applies to Meta’s WhatsApp Business API, which the Commission views as a key distribution channel for AI assistants and other services to reach users across Europe. Meta’s policy change limits access for third-party AI developers, which the Commission says could hinder competition in the emerging market for conversational AI services.

European Commissioner for competition affairs Teresa Ribera said the Commission “cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance to give themselves an unfair advantage” and that interim measures may be necessary to maintain effective competition.

Meta has rejected the allegations, with a spokesperson saying that the Commission “incorrectly assumes the WhatsApp Business API is a key distribution channel” and that users have many AI options through app stores, operating systems, devices, websites, and partnerships.

The Commission’s investigation under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union remains ongoing. Meta now has the opportunity to respond to the Statement of Objections and may request an oral hearing.

Axel Voss, Member of the European Parliament, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

EU Lawmakers Back New Generative AI Copyright Protection Proposals

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The measure would require transparency and fair pay for the use of copyrighted works in generative artificial intelligence training.

Members of the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee approved a set of proposals, “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges,” aimed at protecting copyrighted works used by generative AI. The proposals state that creators should have transparency, control, and remuneration for the use of their material in AI training data.

The proposals would require that European Union copyright law apply to all generative AI systems available on the EU market, regardless of where the training took place, and call for full transparency about the copyrighted content used in training, including lists of works and records of data crawling by AI providers and deployers.

The committee text also seeks fair remuneration for rights holders for the use of copyrighted material by generative AI and urges the European Commission to explore whether such payments should cover past uses. It rejects the concept of a single global licence with a flat-rate payment for AI training.

In its report, the committee says news media and individual creators should be able to refuse use of their content for AI training and calls on the Commission and member states to act to protect media pluralism and ensure remuneration for use of press content.

The committee text further states that works fully generated by AI should not qualify for copyright protection and calls for measures to address the dissemination of manipulated AI-generated content, as well as obligations on digital service providers to counter illegal use.

After the committee vote, Voss said, “Generative AI must not operate outside the rule of law. If copyrighted works are used to train AI systems, creators are entitled to transparency, legal certainty, and fair compensation.”

The report will be put to a vote in the full European Parliament plenary, expected in March.

Council of Europe signals AI could threaten democracies.

Council Of Europe Official Warns AI Poses Risks To Democracy

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The Deputy Secretary General says technology can undermine elections and public trust if unchecked.

 

 

A top official from the Council of Europe warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could threaten democratic systems if its development and use are not carefully regulated. Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, spoke at a conference in London that brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, experts, and civil society representatives to discuss AI’s impact on democratic values and human rights.

Speaking alongside the Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, Berge said AI has already changed the way citizens form opinions and how elected officials communicate with the public. “In some cases, they use it to strike at the very heart of democracy by undermining free and fair elections,” he said, referring to the risk of foreign information manipulation and interference through automated systems.

The Deputy Secretary General emphasized the need for collective action across borders to ensure democratic processes remain strong as information ecosystems evolve. “Given that artificial intelligence knows no borders, we need to work together to ensure that our democratic processes remain resilient as information ecosystems evolve, with human rights at their core,” Berge said.

The conference, hosted at the British Parliament’s Westminster campus, highlighted growing concern among European institutions about how AI technology could be used to distort public debate, influence voters, and erode trust in democratic institutions. The event also served as a platform to mobilize support for the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, which aims to set international standards that protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the age of AI.

The gathering underscored the belief among lawmakers and experts that democratic bodies must play a stronger role in shaping AI regulation. Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, told attendees that technology should support representative government, not replace it.