British telecommunications regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), alleging the social media giant provided "incomplete and inaccurate" information regarding its WhatsApp service during a high-stakes market review.
The watchdog announced the probe on Friday, stating that the discrepancies arose during an inquiry into the wholesale market for business bulk SMS messages—a sector critical for services like medical appointment reminders and parcel delivery notifications.
According to Ofcom, Meta’s submissions during the 2025 review failed to meet the required standards for transparency and accuracy.
“The available evidence suggests that the information we received in response from Meta may not have been complete and accurate,” the regulator said in a statement.
The investigation marks a significant escalation in tensions between UK officials and Meta, as regulators increasingly scrutinize the dominant role of "over-the-top" messaging apps in sectors traditionally held by telecom carriers.
The core of the dispute lies in how Meta represents WhatsApp’s influence in the business messaging space.
As companies shift away from traditional SMS toward encrypted messaging platforms for customer engagement, Ofcom has been tracking whether these new channels provide fair competition or create market bottlenecks.
The original market review, conducted last year, aimed to assess whether the SMS market remained competitive as WhatsApp Business expanded its footprint.
In September 2025, Ofcom had already issued a correction note regarding reported volumes of WhatsApp Business conversations, hinting at underlying issues with the data provided by the parent company.
This new inquiry adds to a growing list of regulatory hurdles for Meta in Europe and the UK.
While this specific probe focuses on procedural accuracy and market data, it coincides with broader investigations into Meta’s AI policies and data protection practices across the continent.
If Ofcom finds that Meta intentionally or negligibly misled the regulator, the company could face significant financial penalties or be forced to undergo more rigorous reporting requirements in future market assessments.