New York, February 9, 2026, 09:54 (EST) — Regular session.
- Meta shares edged up at the open, even as the EU warned of rapid antitrust moves tied to WhatsApp’s AI features.
- Regulators signaled they could roll out interim measures—a move rarely seen—aimed at stopping “serious and irreparable” harm as their investigation proceeds.
- Meta’s move in Europe is on traders’ radar, with important U.S. numbers set for release later this week.
Meta Platforms climbed roughly 0.6% Monday morning, with the stock adding $3.70 to hit $665.16 early. Investors digested the EU’s antitrust warning targeting the Facebook parent’s limits on competing AI assistants within WhatsApp.
The European Commission has issued Meta a “statement of objections,” effectively laying out formal antitrust charges as part of its probe, and isn’t ruling out hitting the company with interim measures during the ongoing investigation. These interim measures, regulators said, are designed to head off any harm that can’t later be reversed. Morningstar
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera called for safeguarding “effective competition in this vibrant field,” warning that dominant players shouldn’t leverage their platform power to distort a rapidly expanding market. The regulator noted it’s weighing swift action to ensure competitors keep access to WhatsApp. Yahoo Finance
Meta hit back, arguing Brussels had “no reason” to step in. A spokesperson pointed out that users already access AI tools via app stores, devices, and websites, and claimed the Commission was misclassifying the WhatsApp Business API as a major chatbot distribution route. Reuters
Meta’s recent move to restrict rival AI assistants from using WhatsApp’s Business API — the tool businesses rely on to plug their services into the messaging platform — has sparked a backlash from EU regulators. Officials say Meta’s tighter controls risk locking out competitors before the market can properly pick winners.
The charges filed Monday expand on an EU probe launched back in December, which is looking into whether Meta’s handling of AI providers on WhatsApp might run afoul of competition regulations. Back then, the Commission flagged worries that Meta’s policy could block third-party AI providers from bringing their services to WhatsApp users across Europe.
Shareholders are watching as Meta doubles down on AI, both inside its products and under the hood. The company’s most recent numbers peg 2026 capital spending—including finance lease payments—between $115 billion and $135 billion. Mark Zuckerberg, for his part, talked up “advancing personal superintelligence” in 2026. AtMeta
Stocks stumbled out of the gate Monday. The Dow shed 0.14% at the open, the S&P 500 slipped 0.22%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.34%. Investors were still on edge over swings tied to AI names and rate outlooks.
This week’s U.S. schedule is packed, with the January jobs report—postponed—now landing Wednesday, and the consumer price index due Friday. Both could jolt rate forecasts and shake up big tech valuations.
But the EU process isn’t just noise for Meta—it’s a real risk flag. If regulators hit Meta with an interim order, that might require tweaks ahead of any final decision. Meta could have to dial back how aggressively it bundles or pushes its own AI inside WhatsApp. That opens the door for competitors, who could get more straightforward access to users via the same platform.
Now, traders are waiting to see how Meta responds to the Commission’s objections and whether interim measures come down. They’re also tracking Wednesday’s jobs numbers and Friday’s inflation report—key data points for rate expectations.
