Meta AI under scrutiny by an Italian regulation body
Italy is initiating proceedings against Meta Platforms for alleged abuse of dominant position. The reason is the direct integration of the Meta AI assistant with WhatsApp without user consent and no option to disable it.
Meta AI, an AI-based chatbot, appeared on WhatsApp in March 2025 as the new default search bar. It wasn’t a user’s choice — the feature was integrated automatically, without asking for consent and without any option to disable it. For the Italian antitrust authority AGCM, this is not just a matter of user comfort but a potential abuse of dominant market position.
According to AGCM, Meta may have used its control over the most popular messenger in Europe to unfairly promote its own AI service and thus limit access to alternative tools. Particular concern was raised that the more often people use Meta AI, the more accurate its responses become, which creates an advantage that is difficult for competitors to reverse.
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