June 9 (UPI) — The European Commission ordered Meta to allow competing artificial intelligence assistants to access WhatsApp while it investigates the company for antitrust violations.

The company must restore access by next week as it was until October, when the competition could use WhatsApp for free.

“In rapidly evolving markets, competition can be lost long before a final decision is adopted. This is why these interim measures will remain in place for the duration of the investigation, in order to prevent harm that would be almost impossible to repair,” Teresa Ribera, executive vice president for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, said in a statement. “These interim measures will safeguard competition in the growing market for AI assistants, by preserving a key entry point to reach consumers in Europe — WhatsApp — and allowing AI companies to innovate, scale up and reach their full potential.”

The EC began its investigation in December around the same time Italy called foul of the alleged anti-competitive move by the company. Italy folded its complaint into the EC probe. After Brussels warned in February that it may force the company to open back up, in March Meta allowed the other companies in but began charging them fees. Brazil has levied similar complaints.

Meta has said WhatsApp’s business platform was not built to carry AI chatbots and that competitors can reach users through other channels.

“The European Commission has decided that OpenAI and some of the largest companies in the world can use the paid-for WhatsApp Business product for free. This is regulatory overreach subsidized by the many European companies that pay. We will appeal,” a Meta spokesperson told Politico.

Meta is also appealing a $228.34 million fine from the EU for violations of the Digital Markets Act.

If the company ignores the order, it can face fines of up to 10% of its annual revenue.