Overview
- Italy’s antitrust authority expanded a July investigation to cover WhatsApp’s October 15 Business Solution Terms and newly integrated Meta AI features.
- The regulator opened a procedure to consider interim measures that could suspend the new terms and limit further integration of Meta AI during the probe.
- Officials warn the changes could restrict output, market access or technical development in AI chatbot services, leveraging WhatsApp’s large user base in Italy.
- The updated terms bar companies whose main offering is AI services from using WhatsApp Business, applying immediately to newcomers and from January 15, 2026 for existing users.
- WhatsApp rejected the allegations as unfounded, saying its API was not designed for AI chatbots and that most businesses using it for customer support remain unaffected.