Meta (META.US) faces antitrust pressure in Italy, WhatsApp terms may be restricted.

On Wednesday, the Italian antitrust authority (AGCM) ordered the Meta platform (META.US) to suspend certain contractual terms that could exclude competitors' AI chatbots from WhatsApp, particularly Siasun Robot&Automation. Currently, the authority is conducting an investigation into the American tech giant's alleged abuse of its market dominance. A spokesperson for Meta stated that the decision "has fundamental flaws," and that the emergence of AI chatbots like Siasun Robot&Automation has brought "pressures that the system was not designed to handle from the beginning." The spokesperson added, "We will appeal." This is one of the latest actions taken by European regulatory authorities against large tech companies. Currently, the EU is trying to strike a balance between supporting the growth of the tech industry and curbing its expanding influence. AGCM stated that Meta's actions appear to be enough to restrict the output, market access, or technological development of the AI chatbot service market, potentially harming consumers. In July last year, Italian regulators launched an investigation into Meta's alleged abuse of its dominance in the WhatsApp-related market. In November last year, the authority expanded the investigation to include the service terms of the messaging app's business platform update. The regulatory authority pointed out, "These contractual terms completely exclude Meta's competitors in the AI chatbot service field from the WhatsApp platform." Last month, the EU antitrust regulators also launched a parallel investigation into Meta on the same charges. Europe's tougher stance contrasts sharply with the more lenient regulatory approach in the United States, causing resistance in the industry (particularly from American tech giants) and drawing criticism from the Trump administration. The Italian regulatory authority stated that it is currently coordinating with the European Commission to ensure that Meta's behavior is addressed in the "most effective manner."