The European Union has ordered Meta to allow rival AI chatbots access to WhatsApp, citing concerns over the company's alleged abuse of its dominant market position. The EU's decision, announced recently, follows Meta's recent change to the messaging app, which now exclusively allows its own AI assistant, Meta AI, to access it.
According to the BBC Technology, the European Commission stated that WhatsApp is a crucial entry point for AI chatbots like ChatGPT to reach users. The commission claimed that Meta was blocking competitors, thereby abusing its dominant position. A Meta spokesperson, however, told the BBC that the EU had "no reason" to intervene and that the commission had "incorrectly" assumed WhatsApp Business was a key way people use chatbots.
In other news, Spotify announced that it had managed to boost the number of people streaming music, podcasts, and audiobooks on its platform, despite increasing competition in the streaming industry. According to the BBC Business, paid subscribers in the last three months of 2025 jumped by 9 million, reaching 290 million. This helped the music giant's net profit rise to 1.17 billion. However, the Swedish firm continues to face criticism from artists who claim the platform does not pay them enough for their songs.
Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal have been hit by a third deadly storm in two weeks, causing significant damage and flooding. The Guardian reported that Storm Marta swept the Iberian peninsula over the weekend, following the devastation caused by Storms Kristin and Leonardo.
In political developments, the European Parliament passed new legislation that would allow member states to deport migrants to designated "safe" countries outside the EU, even if they are not from those nations. Al Jazeera reported that the measure was approved on Tuesday with a vote of 396-226, with support from center and far-right members.
Finally, Zimbabwe's cabinet backed draft legislation that would change the constitution to extend presidential terms from five years to seven, potentially allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030. Al Jazeera reported that the proposed changes also include a provision that the president be elected by parliament rather than through a direct popular vote.
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