Italian Watchdog Halts WhatsApp Business Terms Over Antitrust Concerns
In Focus
- The policy keeps competing AI chatbots from the WhatsApp platform
- The latest order ensures WhatsApp remains accessible to Meta’s AI competitors
- Meta argues that the decision by the regulator is fundamentally flawed
Italy’s antitrust watchdog Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) has instructed Meta platforms to halt implementation of a policy that prohibits competing AI chatbots from its WhatsApp platform. According to Reuters, Italy’s antitrust WhatsApp update comes as the competition watchdog investigates the social media giant for integration of AI service into the messaging platform.
Details of AGCM’s Probe into Meta Platforms
The AGCM started probing Meta Platforms in July 2025 to determine whether the AI features introduced on WhatsApp abuse its dominant position. The Italian regulator expanded the scope of the investigation in November 2025, to include a review of WhatsApp’s Business Solution Terms.
“These contractual conditions completely exclude Meta AI’s competitors in the AI chatbot services market from the WhatsApp platform,” the watchdog noted as per Reuters.
The review excludes general purpose AI chatbots from the messaging platform. According to Meta’s WhatsApp rival AI chatbots update, the new rules might require interim measures. The latest order is aimed at ensuring that WhatsApp remains accessible to Meta’s AI competitors as the probe continues.
“Meta’s conduct appears to constitute an abuse, since it may limit production, market access or technical developments in the AI chatbot services market, to the detriment of consumers,” the AGCM mentioned as stated by Reuters.
News of Meta’s WhatsApp antitrust order emerged days after the social media giant introduced new holiday features. The features enhance calls and enable image creation and photo-to-animation tools.
Meta Says AGCM’s Decision is Flawed
But Meta has argued that AGCM’s decision is fundamentally flawed. The company says that integration of AI chatbots in its business application interface strains its systems, which were initially not designed to support them. Meta, which plans to personalize ads and content with AI chats, said it will appeal the decision.
“The Italian authority assume WhatsApp is somehow a de facto app store. The route to market for AI companies are the app stores themselves, their websites and industry partnerships; not the WhatsApp Business Platform.” a Meta spokesman noted as per Investor’s Business Daily.
Italy’s antitrust orders to Meta about WhatsApp AI come days after the regulator imposed a $115 million fine on Apple over its App Store privacy policy. The policy allegedly created unequal conditions by imposing stricter privacy rules on third-party developers, compared to those applied on Apple.
EU’s Scrutiny Over U.S. Big Techs
AGCM’s decision is the latest action that European regulators have taken against major U.S. tech companies as the region seeks to curb their growing influence. Last month, EU regulators announced a parallel antitrust probe on Meta over AI integration into WhatsApp.
Through the probe, the regulators want to determine whether WhatsApp AI complies with EU competition rules. The AGCM said it is working with the European Commission to ensure Meta’s conduct was sufficiently addressed. The EU’s tight scrutiny has sparked sharp reactions from U.S. companies and attracted criticism from President Donald Trump’s administration.
