tech
January 13, 2026
Brazil orders Meta to suspend policy banning third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp
Brazil's competition watchdog has ordered WhatsApp to put on hold its policy that bars third-party AI companies from using its business API to offer chatbots on the app. The agency has also started an investigation against the company to determine if the policy is anti-competitive.
TL;DR
- Brazil's competition watchdog (CADE) ordered WhatsApp to halt its policy banning third-party AI chatbots on its Business API.
- CADE has launched an investigation into WhatsApp's policy for potential anti-competitive conduct.
- The policy, implemented in October, prevents companies like OpenAI and Microsoft from offering their chatbots on WhatsApp.
- Meta's policy does not prohibit businesses from offering their own chatbots on WhatsApp.
- Similar antitrust investigations into this policy have been initiated by the European Union and Italy.
- Meta claims the Business API was not designed for AI chatbots and that they strain its systems.
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