Italian authorities have launched an investigation into Meta Platforms over concerns that the tech giant may have violated European Union competition rules by embedding its artificial intelligence assistant, Meta AI, directly into WhatsApp without giving users a choice.
The country’s antitrust agency announced the probe on Wednesday, stating that Meta which owns WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram may be abusing its dominant position in the consumer messaging market by unilaterally integrating the AI tool into WhatsApp in March 2025.
According to the regulator, Meta’s move could be seen as “forcing” the use of its AI chatbot on users, thereby giving itself an unfair advantage in the growing AI market.
It warned that this approach may hinder fair competition by promoting Meta AI not based on merit, but through automatic exposure to WhatsApp’s massive user base.
Officials expressed concern that the integration could make users overly reliant on the service, especially as the AI becomes more personalized and useful over time through increased data interactions.
On Tuesday, Italy’s Financial Police and antitrust officials conducted an inspection at Meta’s Italian headquarters as part of the inquiry. The investigation is being coordinated closely with relevant departments at the European Commission.
Regulators further cautioned that such practices could trap users into the Meta ecosystem, limiting their freedom to choose competing AI services.
AFP
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