Meta Platforms (META) may face interim measures from European regulators over its new policy on artificial intelligence providers' access to WhatsApp, Reuters reported Thursday, citing European Commission executive vice president Teresa Ribera.

The European Commission on Thursday launched a formal investigation to assess whether Meta's October policy breaches EU competition rules. The Commission said it is concerned the policy could prevent rival AI providers from reaching customers in the European Economic Area, while Meta's own AI tool, Meta AI, remains accessible on the platform.

The regulator is considering whether it "should act quickly to prevent any possible irreparable harm to competition in the AI space," Ribera was quoted by the Commission as saying.

Ribera told reporters Thursday that the Commission had received complaints from small companies about Meta's WhatsApp AI policy, the report said.

In an emailed statement to MT Newswires, a WhatsApp spokesperson said Thursday the claims are "baseless," adding that the AI space is "highly competitive" and users "have access to the services of their choice in any number of ways."

Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.

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