EU Plans Antitrust Probe into Meta's AI Rollout on WhatsApp

EU Antitrust Probe into Meta's AI

• 🇪🇺 The European Union is planning a new antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms.
• 🤖 The probe concerns Meta's integration of artificial intelligence features into WhatsApp.
• 📈 This action highlights how closely authorities are monitoring Big Tech's use of generative AI on large platforms.

Details of the Investigation

• 🗓️ The European Commission was reportedly set to open a probe into Meta's integration of its AI system into WhatsApp earlier this year.
• 💬 Meta AI, a chatbot and virtual assistant, has been built into WhatsApp's interface since March across European markets.
• 🚫 Meta has stated it has not received details of the probe and pointed to an earlier, unfounded Italian inquiry.

Previous Inquiries and Concerns

• 🇮🇹 Italy's antitrust watchdog initiated an investigation in July regarding Meta's alleged abuse of market power by embedding an AI tool into WhatsApp.
• 🧐 This probe was expanded in November to assess if Meta further abused its dominance by blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp.
• ⏳ The FT reported that the commission is expected to announce the investigation in the coming days, though the timing is subject to change.