Meta Offers Rival AI Chatbots Limited Free Access to WhatsApp, on Brussels’ Terms
May 20, 2026 – 7:51 am
After a January ban and March’s $0.0625-per-message fee, Meta has submitted a new proposal to the European Commission allowing free access to WhatsApp for OpenAI, Perplexity, Anthropic’s Claude, and others. This comes after the Commission hinted at formal action under the Digital Markets Act.
According to Reuters, the proposal grants rival AI chatbots free use of WhatsApp in Europe up to a certain usage limit, followed by a fee. The plan is Meta’s third attempt to balance regulators’ demands with its revenue model for WhatsApp.
The new structure depends on the chosen usage cap. If set high enough, it significantly changes European chatbot competition. If low, it merely rebadges the previous prohibitive fee model.
WhatsApp boasts approximately 2 billion global monthly active users and 500 million in Europe, making it a critical messaging platform, especially in regions like Brazil, India, and parts of Mediterranean.
The negotiation is complex, considering the broader context of the Digital Markets Act.