The Italian Antitrust authority has taken a significant step against Meta, adopting a precautionary measure against the tech giant. The investigation, which began in July 2025, focuses on Meta’s alleged abuse of its dominant position in the market. Specifically, the authority is concerned about Meta’s integration of its AI service into the WhatsApp messaging app, which may be giving it an unfair advantage over competitors. The Antitrust authority has also launched a sub-procedure to examine the new contractual conditions introduced by Meta for its WhatsApp Business Solution, which are set to take effect on January 15th, 2026.
Background of the Investigation
The Antitrust authority’s investigation was sparked by concerns that Meta’s actions may be preventing other companies from competing in the Chatbot AI services market. By integrating its own AI service into WhatsApp, Meta may be limiting the ability of other companies to offer their services on the platform. This could have significant implications for consumers, who may be denied access to alternative AI services. The authority’s precautionary measure is intended to prevent any further harm to competition while the investigation is ongoing.
Meta’s Response
In response to the Antitrust authority’s decision, a Meta spokesperson stated that the company plans to appeal the ruling. According to the spokesperson, the emergence of artificial intelligence chatbots on WhatsApp’s Business APIs has put pressure on the company’s systems, which were not designed to support this type of use. Meta argues that the Antitrust authority’s assumption that WhatsApp is a de facto app store is unfounded, and that the market access channels for AI companies are actually app stores, websites, and sector partnerships, rather than the WhatsApp platform.
Codacons’ Perspective
Codacons, a consumer protection association, has welcomed the Antitrust authority’s decision. The organization had filed a complaint with the authority in March, which led to the opening of the investigation in July. Codacons argues that Meta’s actions could have negative repercussions for consumers, who may be denied access to alternative AI services. The organization also notes that the case has implications for hundreds of thousands of profiles in Italy, and that Meta may be required to take action to block minors’ access to Instagram if a separate court case is successful.
The Antitrust authority’s decision is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role of big tech companies in the market. As the investigation continues, it will be important to monitor the implications for consumers and competitors. For more information, visit Here