Italian Authorities Investigated Meta For Adding Meta AI To WhatsApp

Meta investigated Italian authorities (photo: dock.unsplash)

JAKARTA The antitrust authorities in Italy said they were investigating Meta, a company that houses platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger.

The company was investigated on charges of abuse of power by installing Meta AI into the WhatsApp app. This investigation was also carried out to find out whether Meta had violated EU competition rules (EU).

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) model began to be added to WhatsApp at the end of last year. According to the authority named AGCM, the addition of Meta AI can harm its competitors and its users.

What's more, Meta added the AI-based virtual assistant to WhatsApp without the user's consent. AGCM says they are working with relevant offices in the European Commission.

"By combining Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta seems to be able to direct its user base to a new market not through achievement-based competition, but by 'forcing' users to receive the availability of two different services," the authority said.

Meanwhile, Meta says it has teamed up with Rome-centric authorities to provide AI services that are beneficial to its users. The addition of Meta AI on WhatsApp is done to provide options for users.

"Waving free access to our AI feature on WhatsApp gives millions of Italians the option to use AI in a place they already know, trust, and understand," said a Meta spokesperson.

If Meta is declared to have violated EU competition rules by abusing its dominant position, they will be fined up to ten percent of global turnover.