Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta faces antitrust probe across 21 African markets over WhatsApp AI rules

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta faces antitrust probe across 21 African markets over WhatsApp AI rules

February 20, 2026 discoverhiddenusacom Business

Regulators in Africa are intensifying scrutiny of tech giants, with a new probe launched into Meta’s WhatsApp Business Solution. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition and Consumer Commission is examining whether recent updates to WhatsApp’s terms of service, slated for October 2025, unfairly disadvantage third-party artificial intelligence (AI) providers.

Concerns Over Potential Anti-Competitive Practices

The COMESA commission is investigating whether the revised terms prioritize Meta’s own AI tools – Meta AI – while potentially limiting functionality for rival AI services. This structure, according to the commission, could constitute an abuse of Meta’s dominant market position within the 21-member Common Market, a region encompassing significant digital economies like Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia.

Did You Know? The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa includes 21 member states, representing a substantial and growing digital economy across the continent.

A Fact-Finding Mission

Currently, the COMESA commission emphasizes that this is an initial fact-finding process, not a determination of wrongdoing. The commission will evaluate the potential impact of the changes on the market and has requested written feedback from stakeholders by March 16, 2026, before reaching any conclusions.

Broader Scrutiny of Meta’s Operations

This investigation is part of a larger trend of increased oversight of Meta’s practices across Africa and globally. Kenyan authorities have previously examined the company’s data handling and its role in the spread of misinformation. In Nigeria, Meta has faced fines from the data protection regulator for privacy violations. Similar regulatory pressure is also building in Europe, where authorities are reviewing Meta’s AI integration within WhatsApp.

Expert Insight: The increasing willingness of African regulators to challenge the practices of global technology firms signals a growing assertion of digital sovereignty and a desire to foster competitive markets within the region.

Implications for Africa’s Digital Economy

WhatsApp is a crucial communication and commerce platform for millions of businesses, developers, and consumers across Africa. Analysts suggest that restricting access to the platform for independent AI developers could hinder innovation and limit customer reach, particularly for startups relying on WhatsApp as a key digital gateway.

The probe highlights a broader shift, with African regulators demonstrating a greater readiness to address how large technology companies wield their market power in emerging AI markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is COMESA investigating?

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition and Consumer Commission is examining whether updates to WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, set for October 2025, unfairly restrict third-party AI providers.

Which countries are included in the Common Market?

The Common Market includes 21 member states, including major digital economies such as Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia.

What is the timeline for the investigation?

The commission is currently in a fact-finding phase and has invited stakeholders to submit written feedback by March 16, 2026.

As regulators continue their assessment, what impact might these findings have on the future of AI integration within popular messaging platforms in Africa?