Italy Orders Meta to Halt WhatsApp AI Chatbot Restrictions
Italy’s competition watchdog has issued a formal order requiring Meta to pause a policy that prevents third-party companies from deploying AI chatbots through WhatsApp’s business tools. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) announced the decision on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing antitrust scrutiny of the tech giant.
The regulator’s intervention stems from concerns that Meta is leveraging its market dominance to favor its own Meta AI chatbot while stifling competition. According to the AGCM, the current policy could lead to “serious and irreparable harm” by limiting innovation and restricting market access for other AI service providers.
Regulatory Concerns and Market Impact
The conflict centers on a policy update introduced by Meta in October, which specifically prohibits general-purpose chatbots—such as those developed by OpenAI, Perplexity, and Poke—from operating via the WhatsApp Business API. The AGCM argues that this conduct may constitute an abuse of power, negatively impacting consumers and hindering technical development in the artificial intelligence sector.
The restriction specifically targets general AI assistants, though it does not impact businesses using AI for routine customer service functions. The European Commission has also initiated its own inquiry into the matter, questioning whether the policy effectively blocks competitors from the European Economic Area.
Meta’s Defense and Planned Appeal
Meta has rejected the regulator’s findings, labeling the decision as “fundamentally flawed.” The company maintains that the WhatsApp Business API was never intended to serve as a distribution platform for third-party AI models.
In an emailed statement regarding the ruling, the company outlined its position:
- The WhatsApp Business Platform is not designed as a marketplace for AI companies.
- Distributing AI chatbots through the API places technical strain on systems not built to support that level of integration.
- The company believes that AI developers should rely on standard app stores, official websites, and industry partnerships to reach users.
Meta confirmed it intends to appeal the decision, continuing a legal battle that pits the company’s control over its API infrastructure against European antitrust regulations. The AGCM investigation, which was expanded in November, remains active as authorities assess the long-term impact on market contestability.