Overview
- Italy’s competition authority ordered Meta to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp while it investigates suspected abuse of dominance.
- The disputed policy, announced in October for a January 15 rollout, would block general‑purpose chatbots from WhatsApp’s Business API but still allow AI customer service bots.
- Regulators say the terms would exclude competitors from WhatsApp and risk limiting output, market access and technical development in the AI chatbot market.
- Meta called the decision fundamentally flawed and argued that third‑party chatbots strain systems that were not designed to support such use.
- The Italian action proceeds in coordination with a separate European Commission probe, as Meta also faces DSA scrutiny and appeals a €200 million DMA fine.