Italian Regulator Acts on WhatsApp AI Policies
The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), Italy's antitrust authority, has issued an interim order requiring Meta Platforms to suspend specific contractual terms on its messaging service, WhatsApp. The decision, announced on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, is a precautionary measure within an ongoing investigation into Meta's potential abuse of its dominant market position concerning artificial intelligence (AI) features.
The AGCM's order targets updated WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, which were introduced in October 2025 and are scheduled to become fully effective by January 15, 2026. According to the regulator, these terms could 'completely exclude competitors of Meta AI from the WhatsApp platform,' thereby limiting competition in the nascent AI chatbot market.
Allegations of Market Dominance Abuse
The investigation, initially launched in July 2025 and expanded in November 2025, focuses on whether Meta's integration of its own AI services into WhatsApp unfairly disadvantages rival AI chatbot providers. The AGCM has expressed concerns that Meta's conduct could restrict 'output, market access or technical developments in the AI Chatbot services market,' potentially causing 'serious and irreparable harm to competition' and detriment to consumers.
The Italian authority's intervention applies to Meta Platforms Inc., Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., WhatsApp Ireland Ltd., and Facebook Italy S.r.l.
Meta's Response and Broader European Scrutiny
In response to the AGCM's order, Meta has strongly refuted the allegations, describing the ruling as 'fundamentally flawed.' A company spokesperson stated that the rapid emergence of AI chatbots has placed 'severe strain' on WhatsApp's systems, which were not originally designed to support such widespread use. Meta also argued that the WhatsApp Business API was never intended to be a distribution platform for general-purpose AI chatbots and that WhatsApp does not function as an app marketplace. The tech giant has indicated its intention to appeal the decision.
This action by the Italian regulator is part of a broader trend across Europe to increase scrutiny and regulation of major technology companies. The European Commission also initiated a parallel antitrust probe in December 2025, examining similar concerns about Meta's AI features and their impact on competition within the messaging and AI sectors.
6 Comments
Michelangelo
About time someone curbed Meta's power grab.
Leonardo
Meta has every right to control its own platform and API.
Raphael
Protecting competition in AI is vital for consumers, yet Meta's concerns about system strain and the intended use of their API are legitimate. A balanced approach is needed to avoid unintended consequences.
Donatello
Finally, a regulator standing up to Meta's monopoly!
Leonardo
Regulators are right to scrutinize Meta's power, but the AI market is still so new. We need to ensure rules don't accidentally stifle necessary innovation from major players.
Eugene Alta
Another regulator slowing down tech progress. Ridiculous.