After months of regulatory hurdles, Meta AI is now available to users across 41 European countries and 21 overseas territories.
The chatbot, which integrates into WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, offers AI-powered text-based responses but is missing key features available in the U.S. Due to strict compliance requirements under EU privacy laws, image generation and multimodal capabilities have been removed.
The launch was delayed for over a year after concerns from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) led to regulatory scrutiny over how Meta planned to use European user data for AI model training. In June 2024, the company paused AI training on EU user data in response to privacy objections, a move that echoed similar struggles faced by OpenAI and Google when attempting to introduce AI models in the region.
What Can—and Can’t—Meta AI Do in Europe?
Meta AI provides text-based assistance within its messaging apps and social platforms, helping users generate responses, plan trips, and access public information.
However, features such as AI-driven image generation, content personalization, and deeper integration with Meta’s broader AI search engine are currently unavailable in Europe.
Unlike its U.S. counterpart, the European version does not collect user interactions for AI training, a restriction imposed under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In contrast, Meta in other regions, including the U.S., leverages publicly available Facebook and Instagram posts to enhance AI capabilities.
European users can opt out of data scraping, a measure introduced after privacy advocates raised concerns over the scope of Meta’s data collection. However, users in other regions, such as Australia, do not have this option. The controversy surrounding Meta’s data handling has prompted ongoing debates over AI governance and digital privacy.
Furthermore, Meta AI’s rollout does not include Spain, as regulatory challenges have reportedly delayed its availability in the country. Spain’s data protection authorities imposed additional scrutiny, making it one of the few major European markets where Meta AI remains unavailable.
Meta’s Global AI Expansion Plans
Despite these limitations, Meta AI continues to expand into other key markets, including the UK and Brazil, as part of a broader strategy to challenge OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
Meta AI surpassed 400 million monthly users in 2024, highlighting strong adoption across its platforms.
The company is also investing heavily in AI-driven search capabilities. In October 2024, Meta announced its plans to develop an AI-powered search engine to reduce its dependence on Google and Bing. This search function, designed to integrate into Meta’s ecosystem, could potentially extend to Meta AI once regulatory barriers are addressed.
Meta has also secured a multi-year agreement with Reuters to integrate real-time news into its chatbot. However, it remains unclear whether this feature will be included in the European version.
Balancing AI Innovation with Regulation
Meta’s European launch highlights the ongoing tension between AI innovation and regulatory oversight. After pausing AI training in mid-2024, the company made modifications to its data processing policies to align with GDPR, ensuring compliance before rolling out Meta AI.
Meta has expressed its intent to gradually expand the European version to align with the U.S. model. However, whether regulators will approve such enhancements remains uncertain.
While Meta AI’s European debut marks a regulatory milestone, the restrictions imposed could affect user adoption compared to the U.S. market. Without image generation, AI-driven content personalization, or deep integration with Meta’s advertising and search ecosystem, the chatbot may struggle to maintain engagement in the long term.
Meta is already working on a standalone AI chatbot app, which could provide a more advanced AI assistant experience beyond its social media platforms.
