Italy Orders Meta to Resume Access for Rival AI Chatbots on WhatsApp
Italy’s competition watchdog ordered Meta to suspend a policy that would have blocked rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp Business. Regulators fear the ban abuses Meta's dominant position and stifles competition. Meta claims technical limitations and vows to appeal the interim measures.
Italy’s competition watchdog has ordered Meta Platforms to immediately suspend a controversial policy that would have blocked rival artificial intelligence chatbots from operating on WhatsApp. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) announced the interim measures on Wednesday (December 24, 2025), citing concerns that the tech giant is abusing its dominant market position to stifle competition.
The conflict centers on an update to the "WhatsApp Business Solution Terms" introduced by Meta. Under these new rules, third-party developers offering general-purpose AI chatbots were to be effectively banned from the platform. While the policy had already applied to new accounts since mid-October, it was scheduled to come into full force for existing businesses on (January 15, 2026).
Regulators argue that because WhatsApp is a primary communication tool for millions of Italians, banning competitors denies them access to a crucial market. The AGCM stated that Meta’s conduct could "limit production, market access, or technical development" in the AI sector, ultimately harming consumer choice.
The investigation, which initially began in July 2025, was widened in November to specifically address these new exclusionary terms. The watchdog determined that urgent action was necessary to prevent "serious and irreparable harm" to the market while the full investigation concludes.
The AGCM is not acting alone; the regulator confirmed it is coordinating closely with the European Commission, ensuring that Meta’s practices are addressed effectively across the region.
Meta has strongly disagreed with the order. A company spokesperson described the decision as "fundamentally flawed," arguing that the WhatsApp Business interface was never intended to support third-party AI chatbots.
According to Meta, these external AI services "put a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support." The company has vowed to appeal the decision, setting the stage for a continued legal battle over how open major tech platforms must remain to competitors.
