Italy Investigates Meta Over AI Integration in WhatsApp

Meta Platforms, Inc. is under investigation by Italy's antitrust authority for potentially breaching EU competition laws. The probe focuses on Meta's integration of its AI tool into WhatsApp, which may have been done without user consent, reports Reuters. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) is concerned that this move could harm competitors by leveraging Meta's dominant market position.

The AGCM's investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the European Commission. The authority suspects that by embedding its AI service into WhatsApp, Meta might be imposing its use on users, thereby channeling its customer base into the AI market without merit-based competition. This could potentially lock users into Meta's ecosystem, limiting competition from other AI firms.

Meta has stated that its AI service offers benefits to millions of Italians by providing free access to AI features within a familiar platform. The company is cooperating with the investigation and maintains that its approach complies with legal standards.