WhatsApp's Meta AI starts vanishing for some users amid regulatory concerns in Europe

Update 10:29 am (IST): According to a report by The Standard, Meta AI has confirmed that they are aware of the issue and claim that the bug resulted from a “technical issue with Meta AI” and the company is “working on resolving [it]… as soon as possible.”

Original article published on April 10, 2025, follows:

Some WhatsApp users are finding that the recently introduced Meta AI feature has unexpectedly disappeared from their app. The integrated chatbot, marked by a colourful circular icon placed at the bottom right corner, seems to have vanished overnight for a portion of users, particularly noted in Europe.

Reports are surfacing on Reddit where users are sharing their experiences. User Phyliinx mentioned, “Over the course of the night the Meta AI chatbot vanished from my phone. I did not do anything. Maybe they are really reacting to the backlash by deleting it from the app. I also got the old search bar back.”

Others also started chiming in the thread claiming that they’ve too noticed the same. User shakesfistatmoon commented, “Mine has gone as well. It did this last week but came back 24 hours later. Hopefully it’s gone for good this time.” Another user, Bemused28, expressed relief, stating they were “surprised but very happy to notice that annoying multicoloured circle has disappeared this morning. Hope it stays that way!”

The exact reason for the disappearance isn’t confirmed by Meta yet. However, this comes shortly after Meta AI’s rollout across Europe and coincides with scrutiny over how the feature integrates into the app. Regulatory bodies in the EU often have strict rules regarding user consent and data usage, particularly concerning prominent, non-removable features like Meta AI appeared to be. Some users, like Mechanic84, even mentioned contemplating filing a GDPR complaint before noticing the feature was gone. One user confirmed they were in The Netherlands when asked about location.

Interestingly, the removal isn’t universal. I still see the Meta AI feature readily available on my own WhatsApp apps on both iOS and Android here in India. This suggests the vanishing act might be geographically targeted, perhaps a test, a glitch, or indeed a response to specific regional feedback or regulatory pressure.

The situation also unfolds against a backdrop of mixed user reception. Since its introduction, some users have shared instances where Meta AI provided unhelpful, strange, or factually incorrect answers, leading to questions about its current usefulness. I’ve added a few such Reddit posts below to take a look at:

For now, users are left wondering if Meta AI’s disappearance is temporary or a more permanent adjustment, especially in regions like Europe where digital regulations are stringent. Meta has not yet made an official statement clarifying the situation. Since there’s no public evidence of any intervention by regulatory bodies putting a stop to Meta AI’s rollout in the region, it’s possible that it might be a simple bug.

But we’ll just have to wait for an official statement to know what’s going on exactly. In the meantime, let me know if you can still see the Meta AI chatbot on your WhatsApp app.