Italy orders Meta to suspend policy banning rival AI chatbots – NewsBytes
Italy‘s antitrust authority, the AGCM, has ordered Meta to suspend its policy that prevents companies from using WhatsApp’s business tools for their own AI chatbots. The directive comes amid an investigation into whether Meta is abusing its dominant market position by implementing a policy that excludes rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp.
Allegations
The AGCM has said that Meta’s actions could limit production, market access, or technical developments in the AI chatbot services market. This, it said, would be to the detriment of consumers. The authority also warned that if the investigation continues without action from Meta, it could cause serious and irreparable harm to competition in the affected market.
Company stance
Responding to the AGCM’s allegations, a spokesperson for Meta called the decision “fundamentally flawed.” They said that the emergence of AI chatbots has “put a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support.” The spokesperson also confirmed that Meta plans to appeal against this ruling.
Ongoing probe
The AGCM had started investigating Meta in July over suspected abuse of a dominant position with WhatsApp. The probe was expanded in November to include updated terms for the messaging app’s business platform. The authority said these contractual conditions completely exclude competitors of Meta AI in the AI chatbot services market from the WhatsApp platform.
EU probe
Along with the AGCM, EU antitrust regulators are also investigating Meta over similar allegations. The Italian watchdog is working with the European Commission to ensure that Meta’s conduct is addressed “in the most effective manner.” This comes as part of a wider trend of European regulators taking action against Big Tech firms to curb their growing influence.
