Italy: Competition Authority extended investigation into Meta's integration of AI service with WhatsApp over alleged restrictive business solution terms

On 25 November 2025, the Competition Authority expanded its investigation into Meta’s integration of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) service with WhatsApp, under Article 102 of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union on abuse of dominance. The extended investigation follows WhatsApp's business solution terms introduced on 15 October 2025 that restrict access for third-party AI service providers whose primary functionality is AI chatbots or assistants. It was stated that companies, including Microsoft’s Copilot, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Perplexity, are potentially affected due to the restricted access. The Authority considers this a possible refusal to deal, limiting competitors’ access to WhatsApp’s user base and digital infrastructure. The Authority initiated interim measures under Law No. 287/1990 on the Competition and Market Protection Act, allowing parties to inspect the case file, submit statements, and request hearings. The investigation and interim procedure are set to conclude by 31 December 2026.