The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has opened a formal investigation into Meta Platforms Ireland Limited over alleged abuse of dominance within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
The probe follows reports that on 15 October 2025, Meta revised its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in a manner that blocks providers of general-purpose artificial intelligence services from accessing the WhatsApp Business API. At the same time, the company has continued integrating its proprietary AI product, Meta AI, into the platform.
The Commission said it has preliminary grounds to believe Meta may hold a dominant position in relevant digital markets across the COMESA Common Market. The investigation will assess whether the contractual changes amount to exclusionary conduct that distorts competition by limiting rival AI providers’ access to critical digital infrastructure.
At issue is whether restricting third-party AI integration, while promoting an in-house alternative, constitutes discriminatory treatment or unlawful leveraging of market power under COMESA competition regulations.
The regulator has invited stakeholders and interested parties to submit written representations on the matter by 16 March 2026. The consultation forms part of the Commission’s due process framework aimed at ensuring transparency and procedural fairness.
The outcome of the investigation could have broader implications for digital market regulation within COMESA member states, particularly as competition authorities globally intensify scrutiny of large technology platforms’ control over data, APIs and digital ecosystems.
The Commission said the inquiry underscores its mandate to safeguard competitive markets and protect both consumers and enterprises in the region’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
