The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Meta over new policies that restrict artificial intelligence service providers from accessing WhatsApp, the company’s popular messaging platform.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Commission said that Meta’s latest restrictions could block third-party AI providers from offering services to users across the European Economic Area via WhatsApp. Regulators warned that such conduct, if confirmed, may breach EU competition rules that prohibit companies from abusing a dominant market position.

WhatsApp, operated by Meta subsidiary WhatsApp Inc., is one of the most widely used messaging apps in Europe. Officials said that limiting interoperability for AI-driven services could harm innovation and reduce consumer choice.

The investigation will examine whether Meta’s policy changes unfairly disadvantage competitors and distort the rapidly developing AI services market. If violations are found, Meta could face significant fines and be required to alter its practices.