Italy probes Meta for pre-installing WhatsApp AI assistant without consent

Italy’s antitrust authority has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms over allegations that the company abused its dominant position by pre-installing its AI assistant on WhatsApp without user consent. The probe centers on whether Meta violated European Union competition rules by integrating Meta AI into WhatsApp’s interface, potentially steering users unfairly toward its services and harming competitors.

What you should know: The investigation focuses on Meta’s decision to embed its AI chatbot directly into WhatsApp’s core functionality since March 2024.

• Meta AI has been integrated into WhatsApp’s search bar, providing chatbot-style responses and virtual assistant functions to users.
• Italian regulators argue this integration could unfairly advantage Meta’s AI services over competing platforms.
• The watchdog is examining whether this practice locks users into Meta’s ecosystem and restricts competition in the AI assistant market.

Why this matters: This marks another significant regulatory challenge for Meta in Europe, where authorities have increasingly scrutinized Big Tech’s bundling practices and market dominance.

• The investigation could set important precedents for how tech giants integrate AI tools into their existing platforms.
• If found guilty of anticompetitive behavior, Meta could face substantial fines and be forced to modify how it deploys AI features across its services.
• The case reflects broader European concerns about preventing tech monopolies from leveraging their dominant positions to stifle innovation in emerging AI markets.

The regulatory landscape: European competition authorities have been particularly aggressive in challenging tech companies’ integration strategies.

• The investigation aligns with the EU’s broader Digital Markets Act, which aims to prevent gatekeepers from favoring their own services.
• Italy’s antitrust authority is examining whether users were given adequate choice in adopting the AI assistant functionality.
• Meta representatives were not immediately available for comment on the investigation.