Key points
- To probe into potential EU competition violations
- Installation may harm competitors: Watchdog
- Free service benefits millions of Italians: Meta
ISLAMABAD: Italy has said it opened a probe into social media giant Meta for potentially breaking EU competition laws by installing its AI tool into WhatsApp.
AFP cited Italy’s antitrust body as saying, “In March 2025, Meta, which holds a dominant position in the market for consumer communications apps, decided to pre-install its artificial intelligence service on the WhatsApp app”.
“In doing so, Meta may be ‘imposing’ the use of its chatbot and AI assistance services on its users.”
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Several months ago, its Meta AI tool appeared on the screens of the WhatsApp messaging service.
Reuters cited the Italian authority as saying, “By pairing Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta appears to be able to steer its user base into the new market not through merit-based competition, but by ‘forcing’ users to accept the availability of two distinct services, potentially harming competing services”.
AFP reported that the antitrust authority said that it carried out an inspection of the premises of Meta’s Italian subsidiary on Tuesday along with Italy’s Financial Police.
It also said it was investigating the company “in close cooperation with the competent departments of the European Commission”.
“Functionally dependent”
AFP reported that Italian authorities said there is a risk users could become “locked in” or “functionally dependent on Meta AI as “by using the information provided over time, it appears the responses generated by the service become increasingly useful and relevant.”
Reuters reported that the company said it was cooperating with the Rome-based authority and that its AI service benefited customers.
A spokesperson said, “Offering free access to our AI features in WhatsApp gives millions of Italians the choice to use AI in a place they already know, trust and understand,” according to Reuters.
