Source: Reuters

Reuters reports that the Italian Competition and Market Guarantee Authority has issued an urgent order to Meta Platforms to suspend specific clauses in its WhatsApp Business terms. The disputed terms prohibited third-party artificial intelligence providers from accessing or using the platform to offer rival chatbot services. The Italian regulator, AGCM, determined that such restrictions could constitute an abuse of Meta's dominant market position by unfairly hindering competition in the rapidly expanding AI assistant market.

In response to the order, Meta has stated its intention to appeal the decision, arguing that the restrictions are necessary for system stability and user safety. The AGCM's investigation began earlier this year and was expanded in November to specifically address the exclusionary nature of the WhatsApp Business Solution terms. This ruling underscores the increasing scrutiny from European national authorities regarding the interoperability of major messaging platforms and the gatekeeping power of "Big Tech" firms. The outcome of the legal challenge will likely set a significant precedent for how AI competition is regulated within integrated app ecosystems across the European Union.