The Antitrust took action against Meta starting last July for an alleged abuse of position dominant compared to the integrated Meta AI service of the WhatsApp app. The procedure was subsequently extended and on November 25th, regarding the application of new contractual conditions, the request for suspension of the conditions which exclude the trets competitors from WhatsApp.
According to the Competition and Market Authority, the precautionary measure is necessary to mitigate the effects of Meta’s conduct on Italian territory. According to what is reported in the Antitrust note, the company’s behavior risks limiting production, outlets and technical development in the chatbot services market, to consumer harm. On Meta’s part, the response: the authority’s decision is unfounded.
Meta cannot exclude competing AI chatbots
The Competition and Market Authority has imposed on Meta the suspension of the exclusion of competing AI chatbots from WhatsApp. As stated in the official press release, the investigation was started in July 2025 hypothesizing an “abuse of a dominant position” in violation of theArticle 102 TFEU.
According to the Authority, in fact, the company has integrated the Meta AI service into the messaging app in a prominent position compared to competitors’ services. Following a further precautionary sub-proceeding for the application of new contractual rules envisaged by the WhatsApp Business Solution Termsthe procedures have expanded.
These new conditions, in fact, completely exclude Meta AI’s competing companies from the platform.
The reasons for the recall
The Authority listened to the parties and decided on the precautionary measure in relation to the effects of the conduct on Italian territory. According to the Antitrust, in fact, Meta’s behavior risks limiting productionbut also the outlets and technical development of the AI chatbot services market.
Consumers would lose out. Furthermore, we read that Meta’s exclusionary initiative could cause “serious and irreparable damage, during the time necessary to carry out the investigation, to the competitive dynamics in the market concerned”.
Meta’s response
Meta does not wait and responds to theCompetition and market authority. According to the Californian company, in fact, the authority’s decision is unfounded.
His official response reads:
The emergence of AI chatbots on our Business APIs has put pressure on our systems, which were not designed to support this type of use.
He then adds that, according to the Italian Authority, WhatsApp should in some way be an app store where various types of AI chatbots can be downloaded, but this is not the case. Hence the statement: “We will appeal”.
