ChatGPT returns to WhatsApp in Europe after EU antitrust order

OpenAI's ChatGPT is once again accessible on WhatsApp Meta Platforms, Inc. ↘ 0.22% across the European Economic Area as of Monday, July 13, roughly six months after Meta blocked third-party AI assistants from the messaging platform. The restoration follows a European Commission antitrust order issued on June 9 that compelled Meta to reopen its WhatsApp Business API to rival AI providers free of charge.

How the Ban Unfolded

In October 2025, Meta updated its WhatsApp Business Solution terms to effectively ban third-party general-purpose AI assistants from the platform, leaving only its own Meta AI accessible. OpenAI confirmed at the time that ChatGPT would stop working on WhatsApp after January 15, 2026, urging users to migrate their chat histories to the standalone ChatGPT app. The move affected more than 50 million users who had connected with ChatGPT through WhatsApp globally.dig+4

Meta briefly revised its policy in March 2026, allowing third-party AI assistants to return but imposing a fee that the European Commission deemed anticompetitive. The Commission launched a formal antitrust investigation and, on June 9, ordered Meta to reinstate access under the same free terms that existed before October 2025, giving the company five working days to comply. The interim measures will remain in force until the investigation concludes or until June 2029 at the latest.bbc+3

What Users Can Do Now

According to OpenAI's release notes, users in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland can reach ChatGPT by messaging the verified contact at +1-800-242-8478 (1-800-CHATGPT) without needing a separate ChatGPT account. The integration supports text conversations in multiple languages, image imports, voice messages, and AI image generation. Users who link a ChatGPT account gain higher usage limits.generation-nt+3

Broader Stakes

The case has become a test of how far European regulators will go to prevent dominant platforms from locking out AI competitors. Reuters reported that Meta could face fines of up to 10 percent of its global annual revenue if ultimately found to have violated EU antitrust rules. A Meta spokesperson characterized the ruling as allowing "some of the world's largest firms" to use its paid WhatsApp Business service at no cost. The Commission emphasized that the interim measures do not prejudge the final outcome of its investigation.geradinpartners+2