Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has reportedly ordered Facebook-parent Meta to suspconclude certain contract terms linked to WhatsApp. According to a report by news agency Reuters, the relocate comes as the antitrust agency investigates the company for a possible abapply of market power. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) declared the terms could block rival AI chatbots from operating on WhatsApp, potentially limiting competition in the AI chatbot market. The regulator declared Meta’s actions could restrict market access, reduce innovation, and harm consumers.The investigation launched in July, when AGCM opened a probe into Meta over WhatsApp’s market position. In November, the regulator expanded the investigation to include updated contract terms related to WhatsApp’s business platform. According to AGCM, these conditions could fully exclude competitors to Meta’s own AI chatbot services from accessing WhatsApp.
What Meta declared
As per the report, a spokesperson for Meta called the decision “fundamentally flawed,” and declared the emergence of AI chatbots “put a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support”.“We will appeal,” the spokesperson added.European Union antitrust regulators launched a separate investigation last month into similar concerns involving Meta. The Italian watchdog declared it is working closely with the European Commission to address the issue effectively.The relocate is part of a broader push by European regulators to tighten oversight of large technology companies. EU authorities have taken a tougher stance on Big Tech compared to regulators in the United States, a position that has drawn criticism from U.S. technology companies and from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.AGCM declared its goal is to ensure fair competition in the rapid-growing AI chatbot market while preventing dominant platforms from limiting access for rivals.
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