This is the new MLex platform. Existing customers should continue to use the existing MLex platform until migrated.
For any queries, please contact Customer Services or your Account Manager. Dismiss

WhatsApp ordered by Italy to suspend ban on AI chatbots (update*)

By Anna Ferrari, Nicholas Hirst and Lewis Crofts ( December 24, 2025, 07:21 GMT | Insight) -- Meta Platforms' move to exclude AI chatbots from WhatsApp has been suspended by the Italian competition authority pending a full antitrust probe. The enforcer warned of “irreversible” and “disastrous” damage and said AI chatbot messages represented less than 1 percent of traffic. It revealed OpenAI had offered to contribute to Meta’s costs but got no answer. Meta said the decision was "flawed" and that it would appeal.Meta Platforms must freeze its October move to ban rival generative AI chatbots like those of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, Perplexity or Luzia from WhatsApp in Italy pending an antitrust probe, the Italian Competition Authority said on Wednesday....

Prepare for tomorrow’s regulatory change, today

MLex identifies risk to business wherever it emerges, with specialist reporters across the globe providing exclusive news and deep-dive analysis on the proposals, probes, enforcement actions and rulings that matter to your organization and clients, now and in the longer term.


Know what others in the room don’t, with features including:

  • Daily newsletters for Antitrust, M&A, Trade, Data Privacy & Security, Technology, AI and more
  • Custom alerts on specific filters including geographies, industries, topics and companies to suit your practice needs
  • Predictive analysis from expert journalists across North America, the UK and Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific
  • Curated case files bringing together news, analysis and source documents in a single timeline

Experience MLex today with a 14-day free trial.

Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber? Click here to login