Meta started charging for WhatsApp chatbots in Italy on February 16th.
Vietnam.vn EN
02/02/2026 05:31:00
Starting February 16th, Meta will charge a fee for each chatbot response on WhatsApp in Italy, setting a new precedent following a request from the country's antitrust authority.
Starting February 16th, businesses operating chatbots on WhatsApp in Italy will have to pay Meta a fee for each response generated.
This decision stems from a request by the Italian Antitrust Authority to force Meta to remove anti-competitive clauses on the WhatsApp platform.
Meta stated that the fee applies because they have a legal obligation to provide AI chatbots through the WhatsApp Business API.
Previously, the company had blocked all third-party AI chatbots, citing that WhatsApp's system was not designed for AI-generated responses.
The emergence of Meta AI, which uses the LLaMA model, in Europe has further heightened tensions, as this chatbot is deeply integrated into WhatsApp.
Following intervention by Italian authorities in late 2025, Meta was forced to reopen access to external chatbots but shifted some of the costs to the developers.
Meta's new policy could set a precedent that could affect other markets in Europe.
The European Commission is also currently investigating whether Meta favors Meta AI and stifles competition in the chatbot market.
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