GENEVA

Italy's competition authority on Wednesday expanded its investigation into Meta, raising concerns that the company’s new rules for WhatsApp Business users and the integration of additional Meta AI tools could undermine competition in the fast-growing AI chatbot market.

The Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) said the updated WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, introduced on Oct. 15, effectively exclude companies that compete with Meta’s AI services from operating on WhatsApp. The watchdog argued that these rules could limit competitors’ access to users and restrict innovation.

Alongside broadening the scope of the ongoing inquiry, the regulator has also opened proceedings to consider urgent interim measures under Italy’s competition law. These precautionary steps focus on both the new contractual terms and the introduction of new Meta AI features within WhatsApp.

According to the authority, the changes may "limit production, market outlets, or technical development in the AI chatbot services sector, to the detriment of consumers," potentially breaching Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which prohibits abuse of dominant market positions.

The regulator also warned that Meta's conduct could cause "serious and irreparable" harm to market competition. It noted that consumers' reluctance to switch messaging platforms makes it harder for rival chatbot providers to compete if Meta leverages WhatsApp's scale to favor its own AI tools.