Italian authorities have initiated an investigation into Meta, a tech giant, for potential violations of European Union competition laws. The investigation centers around the integration of Meta’s artificial intelligence tool, Meta AI, into the popular WhatsApp messaging platform.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Italy’s antitrust regulator revealed that the probe is examining whether Meta exploited its dominant market position by embedding its AI assistant into WhatsApp without providing users with genuine alternatives.
The statement stated that in March 2025, Meta, which holds a significant market share in the consumer communications app industry, made a decision to pre-install its artificial intelligence service on the WhatsApp app. This move has raised concerns that Meta may be “imposing” the use of its chatbot and AI assistance services on its users.
The authority expressed apprehension that this action could potentially lead Meta to influence its vast WhatsApp user base into the rapidly growing AI services market. The agency believes that this influence might not be achieved through fair competition but rather by preloading the tool and restricting user options.
The statement further emphasized that by merging Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta could be channeling its customer base into the emerging market without resorting to merit-based competition. Instead, the agency suggests that Meta might be “imposing” the availability of the two distinct services upon users, potentially harming competitors.
Officials also highlighted the potential for users to become “locked in” to the service. They explained that the AI’s usefulness and relevance tend to improve with increased usage, creating a functional dependency among users.
On Tuesday, inspectors from the antitrust agency, accompanied by Italy’s Financial Police, conducted a search of Meta’s Italian subsidiary’s offices as part of the ongoing investigation. The probe is being conducted in collaboration with relevant departments of the European Commission.
