Italy Expands Antitrust Investigation Into Meta's WhatsApp AI Integration

Investigation Expands Beyond Initial Scope

Italy's antitrust authority, AGCM, has significantly broadened its investigation into Meta Platforms, examining whether the tech giant abused its dominant market position through AI integration on WhatsApp 1

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. The probe, initially launched in July 2024, now encompasses Meta's updated WhatsApp Business Solution terms that were implemented on October 15, along with the integration of new AI-driven interaction features within the messaging platform 2

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New Business Terms Under Scrutiny

The expanded investigation focuses on Meta's revised terms for its WhatsApp Business Solution service, which enables companies to manage customer communications. According to Italian regulators, these updated conditions effectively ban companies from placing AI services on the platform if artificial intelligence represents their central feature 2

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. This policy change could potentially shut out competitors from accessing WhatsApp's substantial user base of 37 million people in Italy, creating barriers for rival AI chatbot services.

Potential Market Impact and Competition Concerns

Regulators are examining whether these changes could fundamentally restrict competitors' ability to enter or expand in the AI chatbot services market. The authority believes the updated conditions, combined with Meta's AI integration, could reduce market choice and impede technological progress in messaging-based AI tools . The investigation centers on concerns that Meta may have violated European Union competition laws by integrating its AI assistant into WhatsApp without first securing clear user consent.

Interim Measures Under Consideration

The Italian watchdog has initiated procedures for potential interim measures against Meta while the investigation continues. These measures could include suspending the new WhatsApp Business Solution terms and limiting the integration of Meta AI into the messaging platform 2

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. The authority is evaluating these emergency actions to prevent further potential harm to competition during the ongoing inquiry 3

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Meta's Defense and Timeline

A WhatsApp spokesperson has rejected the regulator's claims as "unfounded," arguing that the business platform interface was never designed for AI chatbots and that such usage would strain their systems significantly 2

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. The company maintains that recent updates do not affect thousands of businesses providing customer support or those using AI assistants of their choice for customer interactions. If found in breach of EU competition rules, Meta could face fines reaching up to 10% of its global turnover, with the investigation scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025.