Italy’s antitrust authority has ordered Meta Platforms to suspend parts of its updated WhatsApp terms that would have restricted rival artificial intelligence chatbots from accessing the messaging app’s business platform. On December 24, 2025, the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) imposed interim measures while it investigates whether Meta abused its dominant position by favoring its own AI services.
The disputed terms, introduced in October 2025 and due to take effect in January 2026, would have prevented competing AI chatbots from operating through WhatsApp’s Business Solution API. Regulators said the restrictions risked excluding competitors from the market due to WhatsApp’s scale and network effects, potentially harming competition, innovation, and consumer choice.
The AGCM stressed that the order does not permanently block Meta from revising its contracts but pauses enforcement to prevent lasting market damage during the probe. A Meta spokesperson criticized the decision as “fundamentally flawed,” arguing the changes were driven by technical and infrastructure constraints rather than anti-competitive intent, and confirmed the company plans to appeal.
The case aligns with broader European scrutiny of large technology firms, particularly around AI integration and platform access, and reflects the principles of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. For now, rival AI chatbots can continue operating on WhatsApp in Italy under existing rules as the investigation proceeds, with potential implications for AI distribution and competition policy across Europe.
