Interim measures will stay in place while the anti‑trust probe continues, aimed at preventing serious and irreparable harm to competition.

This action follows Meta’s ongoing Italian AI chatbot probe and adds momentum to the broader EU inquiry opened in December 2025.

Meta also faces other EU probes over Digital Laws compliance, data transparency, and handling of illegal content, potentially leading to substantial fines.

Replacing a ban with a pricing scheme that achieves a similar restriction does not change the Commission’s view that Meta may be abusing a dominant position and harming competition.

If unresolved, Meta could face heavy fines; Brussels has extended the investigation to Italy, which was already examining the same issue.

While final deadlines aren’t disclosed, the language used signals a push toward reinstating third‑party access during the investigation.

The plan references revisions during the ongoing probe, with updates aligned to the latest report date.

Teresa Ribera, head of the EC competition department, said the pricing proposal does not address antitrust concerns and a formal Supplementary Statement of Objections was issued, warning of an injunction if access isn’t restored.

EU authorities view the per‑query fee as effectively blocking access and are prepared to impose provisional measures to stop what they see as a competition restriction.

EU rules allow temporary stop orders in competition cases, which can be challenged in Luxembourg courts; fines for breaches can reach up to 10% of global annual revenue.

Regulators can order temporary halts on suspect practices, with possible challenges in Luxembourg courts, and significant fines for violations.

The European Commission plans to order Meta to reinstate rival AI assistant access on WhatsApp after Meta’s revised policy that charged a per‑query fee for third‑party AI integrations, a move the Commission says could breach EU competition rules.