On December 24, the Italian Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) declared that it had broadened the scope of its ongoing investigation into Meta. Initiated in November, this expansion encompasses a thorough examination of the terms governing WhatsApp's business solutions. The probe, which commenced in July of this year, seeks to determine whether Meta exploited its dominant market position by integrating its Meta AI service into WhatsApp. This particular service enjoys a more prominent display on the platform compared to its rivals. The regulatory authority has enacted provisional measures against Meta, WhatsApp, and Facebook, contending that Meta's conduct amounts to an abuse of market dominance. Such actions could potentially impede production, restrict market access, or hinder technological advancements within the artificial intelligence chatbot services sector, ultimately undermining consumer welfare. Furthermore, Meta's behavior during the investigation phase might inflict severe and irreparable harm on competition within the relevant market.
