Antitrust move signals growing European resolve to police competition in the artificial intelligence race

Italy’s competition watchdog has ordered Meta to suspend specific WhatsApp terms that regulators say could unfairly disadvantage rival artificial intelligence chatbots, escalating Europe’s scrutiny of Big Tech’s growing power in the AI economy.

The decision places Italy at the center of a widening regulatory push to ensure that dominant digital platforms do not use their market strength to tilt the emerging AI landscape in their favor. Authorities argue that the contested WhatsApp terms risk locking users and developers into Meta’s own AI ecosystem while making it harder for competing services to reach consumers.

According to the Italian antitrust authority, the terms in question govern how third-party AI services can interact with WhatsApp’s vast user base. Regulators fear that these conditions may effectively block or discourage alternative chatbots from integrating with the messaging platform, limiting consumer choice at a critical moment for AI adoption.

WhatsApp’s scale gives the case particular weight. With hundreds of millions of users across Europe, the app is seen as a gateway through which new AI assistants could reach the mass market. Control over that gateway, regulators say, must not be abused.

Meta has defended its approach by arguing that integrated AI features are designed to improve user experience and protect privacy and security. The company has said it is reviewing the Italian order and remains committed to complying with European competition rules.

Legal experts note that the case reflects a broader shift in regulatory thinking. Rather than waiting for markets to tip irreversibly toward a single winner, authorities are increasingly intervening early, especially in fast-moving sectors such as artificial intelligence.

The Italian action also dovetails with wider European Union efforts to rein in the power of large technology firms. From competition law to digital markets regulation, policymakers are signaling that AI will not be a regulatory blind spot, even as governments seek to foster innovation and global competitiveness.

Rival AI developers have welcomed the move, arguing that access to major platforms like WhatsApp is essential to building viable alternatives. Without such access, they say, innovation risks being stifled by a handful of entrenched players.

The outcome of the case could have implications well beyond Italy. If upheld, it may encourage other national authorities to take similar steps, adding pressure on Meta and other tech giants to rethink how they deploy AI across their platforms.

As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply woven into everyday digital services, the balance between innovation, competition, and consumer protection is set to define the next chapter of Europe’s tech policy. Italy’s intervention underscores that, in this contest, regulators intend to remain active participants rather than passive observers.