Briefly: Meta started integrating its AI chatbot into WhatsApp in 2024, providing customers quick access to its giant language mannequin service. This transfer might have breached Europe’s antitrust legal guidelines, and Italian authorities at the moment are weighing whether or not to impose a considerable superb on the US firm.
The Italian Competitors Authority (AGCM) just lately launched an antitrust investigation into Meta AI’s integration inside WhatsApp. In March 2025, Meta started pre-installing its AI chatbot within the messaging app, which AGCM says seems to be an try and “impose” Meta’s chatbot and associated AI companies on customers.
Working with the European Fee, the AGCM is investigating Meta and the Italian branches of WhatsApp and Fb. The authority suspects Meta abused its dominant place in social media and messaging apps – a violation of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
In keeping with the regulator, Meta added the AI chatbot to WhatsApp with out prior consumer consent and positioned the Meta AI icon in a outstanding spot on the app’s window. The chatbot is now deeply built-in, successfully compelling customers to work together with it.
“By combining Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta seems able to channelling its buyer base into the rising market, not by merit-based competitors, however by ‘imposing’ the provision of the 2 distinct companies upon customers, doubtlessly harming opponents,” the AGCM said.
The competitors watchdog warns that the pressured inclusion dangers “locking in” WhatsApp customers, who might grow to be reliant on the AI service, offering Meta with rising private knowledge. This rising stream of data would make the chatbot extra helpful and related to customers’ wants, deepening their reliance on it. Critics argue that such dependence may create a suggestions loop, strengthening Meta’s dominance in AI companies and making it even more durable for rivals to compete.
Officers from the AGCM and Italy’s Monetary Police (Guardia di Finanza) have already performed a voluntary inspection of Meta and Fb’s Italian workplaces. If Meta is discovered responsible, it may face fines as much as 10 p.c of its international annual income.
Meta confirmed to The Register that it’s totally cooperating with Italian authorities and stays assured in its compliance. The corporate says providing free entry to Meta AI’s chatbot advantages tens of millions of Italian customers by delivering AI companies inside a well-recognized chat surroundings – some extent the competitors authority sees as a violation of European antitrust legal guidelines.
Picture credit score: Yuri Samoilov
