Legal assistant Liis Pormeister compiled the material.
Competition
Commission sends Meta a Supplementary Statement of Objections on possible interim measures to reverse exclusion of third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp
Published: 15 April 2026
The European Commission plans to order Meta to restore third‑party AI assistants’ access to WhatsApp on the same terms as before October 2025, finding that Meta’s revised paid access still effectively excludes competitors. The Commission considers this a potential abuse of dominance that could harm competition in the fast‑growing AI assistants market. As part of its investigation, the Commission is considering interim measures to prevent serious and irreparable harm, pending a final decision.
See also: press release.
Commission updates EU competition rules for technology licensing agreements
Adopted: 16 April 2026
The European Commission has adopted revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER) rules and updated guidelines to modernise how EU competition law applies to technology transfer agreements. The changes provide clearer guidance on data licensing and licencing negotiation groups, reflecting the growing importance of data and standard‑essential technologies in the digital economy. The new rules aim to help businesses assess compliance while supporting innovation and interoperability, and will apply from 1 May 2026.
See also: press release.
Data & technology
Commission proposes measures to Google regarding the sharing of search engine data with third parties under the Digital Markets Act
Proposed: 16 April 2026
The European Commission has sent Google preliminary findings setting out measures to ensure compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Under these measures, Google is required to share search data (such as ranking, query and click data) with third‑party search engines on fair and non‑discriminatory terms. The aim is to allow competing search services, including AI‑based search tools, to better compete with Google Search. The proposed measures are subject to a public consultation until 1 May, with a binding final decision due by 27 July 2026.
See also: press release.
Banking & finance
Court of Justice clarifies when information ceases to be “inside information” under the Market Abuse Regulation
Decided: 16 April 2026
The Court of Justice ruled that information only ceases to qualify as inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) once it is disclosed in accordance with Article 17 MAR, requiring broad, non‑discriminatory and reliable public dissemination. Limited disclosure to a restricted group (such as tender participants) or mere public accessibility upon request under national transparency rules is not sufficient. As a result, shareholders trading on such information before proper public disclosure may still commit insider dealing.
