COMESA launches inquiry into Meta’s WhatsApp AI limitations
By Aloys Michael, February 23, 2026The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission (CCPC) has opened an investigation into Meta Platforms Ireland Limited over claimed abuse of dominance, raising fresh concerns about competition in the region’s fast-growing digital services sector.
The probe follows reports that Meta unilaterally amended its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in October 2025, effectively blocking providers of general-purpose artificial intelligence services from accessing the WhatsApp Business API, while reported to be maintaining access for its own AI offerings.
“The Commission has reasonable cause to suspect that Meta holds a dominant position in the Common Market,” said Willard Mwemba, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
Under Regulation 36 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations, 2025, companies are barred from abusing a dominant market position to the detriment of competition.
The Commission said the inquiry will assess whether the amendments have the object or effect of restricting or distorting competition.
“The unilateral amendments to WhatsApp Business Terms are likely to substantially lessen competition by excluding AI service providers from accessing a crucial gateway to their customers,” the Commission noted.
Stakeholders have been invited to submit representations by March 16, 2026, with assurances that submissions will be treated confidentially.
The case marks one of the first major tests of COMESA’s newly enforced competition framework against a global technology firm, underscoring growing regulatory scrutiny of digital platforms operating in Africa.
COMESA’s probe comes days after the European Commission officially charged Meta with breaching EU antitrust regulations by restricting third-party AI assistants on WhatsApp.
According to a statement released Monday, February 9, 2026, the Commission issued Meta a Statement of Objections, arguing that the October 2025 WhatsApp Business update effectively blocked all external general-purpose AI assistants, leaving only Meta’s own Meta AI accessible to users.
Regulators warn that this move could stifle competition in the rapidly expanding AI assistant market, raising concerns about fair access and innovation on the platform.
“Meta’s conduct risks blocking competitors from entering or expanding in the rapidly growing market for AI assistants,” the Commission said, adding that WhatsApp is a critical channel for AI assistants to reach consumers and that restricting access could cause serious and irreparable harm to competition.
The Statement of Objections applies throughout the European Economic Area, except Italy, where the Italian Competition Authority imposed interim measures against Meta in December 2025.
“The Commission considers Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, to hold a dominant position in the EEA market for messaging services. By denying competitors access to WhatsApp, Meta is likely abusing that position,” the Commission said.
To limit potential harm while the investigation continues, the Commission plans to impose interim measures on Meta. These steps are intended to preserve competition and do not prejudge the outcome of the case.
“The Commission therefore intends to impose interim measures to prevent this policy change from causing serious and irreparable harm on the market, subject to Meta’s reply and rights of defence,” the Commission said.