Italy Overrides Meta's Plan to Ban Competing Chatbots on WhatsApp
In a significant development within the escalating tensions between technology giants and European regulatory bodies, Meta Platforms has excluded Italy from its plan to prohibit competing chatbots on WhatsApp, following an order from the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM).
In an official statement directed at AI providers and developers, which was reviewed by Reuters, Meta announced that phone numbers with the Italian country code will temporarily not be subject to the updated WhatsApp terms of service, complying with the directive from Italian regulators.
The ban was initially set to take effect on January 15, 2026, a measure intended to prevent AI-driven chatbots from other companies from operating on WhatsApp, thereby giving Meta AI, the intelligent assistant integrated into the app last year, a competitive edge.
* European Investigations and Legal Pressure
The roots of the crisis can be traced back to a ruling by the Italian Competition Authority, which instructed Meta last month to temporarily suspend the implementation of the ban until ongoing investigations into alleged market abuse are concluded, prompted by complaints from the company's competitors.
Simultaneously, the European Commission is conducting a separate investigation into Meta to determine whether the company has violated competition rules by restricting access for competing chatbots on WhatsApp, although no preliminary orders have been issued against the company to date.
* Meta Responds Amid Criticism from Competitors
Despite the growing controversy, Meta has refrained from commenting directly on the updated terms of service, instead referring to a previous statement issued late last year, which emphasized that the widespread use of chatbots has exerted significant pressure on WhatsApp's systems, originally not designed for such volume.
In response, the Interaction Company of California, developer of the intelligent assistant Poke.com and one of the complainants to the Italian and European competition authorities, has sharply criticized Meta's decision to exclude only Italy, labeling the move as unfair and a matter of equal opportunity in the European market.
* Implications of the Decision
Italy's exemption from the ban marks a new chapter in the ongoing conflict between major tech firms and independent AI developers, reflecting the stringent nature of European regulators aiming to monitor practices that could foster monopolies or weaken competition in a rapidly evolving market.
As the new WhatsApp terms of service approach implementation, attention turns to Brussels and Rome to see whether Italy remains the sole exception or if regulatory pressure will compel Meta to reassess its plans across Europe.
