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Meta is facing scrutiny from Africa's Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) over allegations that it's blocking rival artificial intelligence chatbots from integrating with WhatsApp, a move that could reshape how digital platforms operate across the continent.

The investigation centers on whether Meta has denied third-party AI companies access to application programming interfaces (APIs) that would allow their chatbots to function on WhatsApp, according to reports from The East African and Business Daily Africa. If proven, such practices could constitute anti-competitive behavior under Comesa's competition regulations, which govern trade and business practices across 21 member states representing a market of over 600 million people.

Why This Matters for African Tech

WhatsApp dominates messaging across Africa, with penetration rates exceeding 80% in many markets. The platform has become essential infrastructure for everything from customer service to mobile commerce. When a single company controls access to such critical digital real estate, the stakes for competition policy become enormous.

The timing is particularly significant as African startups have been racing to develop AI solutions tailored to local languages, business needs, and use cases. Several homegrown companies have built chatbot technologies designed to serve African businesses and consumers, but their ability to reach users depends heavily on access to platforms where those users already spend their time.

"Meta is accused of denying third-party artificial intelligence companies access to an application that allows them" to integrate with WhatsApp, according to Business Daily Africa's reporting. This alleged gatekeeping could effectively lock African AI innovators out of their own markets, forcing businesses and consumers to use only Meta's AI tools regardless of whether better alternatives exist.

The Broader Pattern

This isn't Meta's first brush with competition concerns in Africa. The company has faced questions about its Free Basics program, which offered limited internet access but was criticized for violating net neutrality principles. Regulators in several African countries have grown increasingly wary of allowing foreign tech giants to set the rules for digital markets without local oversight.

Comesa's investigation reflects a growing confidence among African regulators to challenge Big Tech practices. The regional body has been building its competition enforcement capacity, and this case could establish important precedents about platform access and interoperability. Unlike individual national regulators, Comesa can coordinate action across multiple countries simultaneously, giving it more leverage in negotiations with global technology companies.

The probe also comes as governments worldwide grapple with similar questions about AI access and competition. The European Union's Digital Markets Act has forced platforms to open up certain functionalities, while regulators in the United States and Asia have launched their own investigations into tech platform practices. African regulators are clearly watching these developments and adapting strategies to their own contexts.

What Happens Next

Comesa's investigation process typically involves gathering evidence from the accused company, affected competitors, and market participants before making a determination. If Meta is found to have violated competition rules, penalties could include fines, mandatory changes to business practices, or requirements to provide API access to third parties on fair terms.

For African AI startups, the outcome could determine whether they can compete on merit or remain perpetually disadvantaged by platform restrictions. Several companies have already pivoted their strategies based on platform access uncertainties, building standalone apps rather than integrations, which often means starting from zero in terms of user acquisition.

The case also tests whether regional African institutions can effectively regulate global technology companies. Success here could embolden other regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to take similar stands on digital competition issues.

Meta has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations, and the investigation's timeline remains unclear. But the message from Comesa is unmistakable: African markets may be smaller than those in North America or Europe, but regulators here won't simply accept whatever terms Big Tech companies choose to impose. As AI becomes increasingly central to economic activity, ensuring competitive access to essential platforms isn't just about fairness—it's about whether African innovation can flourish on African soil.