Italy opens probe into Meta over AI tool in WhatsApp / Photo: Yuri CORTEZ - AFP/File
-
White and Tupou to start for Wallabies in third Lions Test
-
Fritz beats rain, Carballes Baena, to advance in Toronto
-
Laos braced for blow of Trump tariff threat
-
United cruise over Bournemouth in Premier League US friendly
-
Most markets down as Fed holds and Trump announces fresh tariffs
-
McLaughlin-Levrone, Lyles headline US championships
-
Too much too young?: Swimming's dilemma over 12-year-old schoolgirl
-
Swiatek cruises, Osaka battles, Bouchard says goodbye in Montreal
-
China manufacturing sinks again in July as US trade talks stall
-
Vatican embraces social media 'digital missionaries'
-
'Silent killer': the science of tracing climate deaths in heatwaves
-
Seoul breaks century-long record with 22 'tropical nights' in July
-
Wallabies scrum-half Nic White calls time on career
-
Terrified by Trump raids, LA's undocument migrants hide at home
-
Tale of love, passion behind Mexico's 'boundary-pushing' Quintonil
-
Clock ticks on US tariff hikes as Trump broadens blitz
-
England and India set for final push in gripping Test series
-
Canada intends to recognize Palestinian state at UN General Assembly: Carney
-
Trump says US to impose 15% tariff on South Korean goods
-
Brazil Central Bank holds interest rate as tariffs loom
-
Ex-NBA star Arenas arrested on charges of hosting illegal poker games
-
Brazil Central Bank holds interest rate after seven straight hikes
-
Shelton ends Mannarino jinx in Toronto
-
Swiatek cruises, Osaka battles through in Montreal
-
Meta beats expectations sending share price soaring
-
Gaza civil defence says 30 killed in food queue by Israeli fire
-
Microsoft quarterly profits soar on AI and cloud growth
-
Airbus first-half profit climbs 85% to $1.7 bn
-
TikTok launches crowd-sourced debunking tool in US
-
'Ours forever': would-be Israeli settlers march on Gaza
-
Trump punishes Brazil with tariffs, sanctions over trial of ally Bolsonaro
-
US sprinter Kerley out of US trials
-
Ukraine will fix anti-graft law, minister tells AFP ahead of crucial vote
-
Tata Motors to buy Italy's Iveco for $4.4 bn
-
From skies over Gaza, Jordanian crew drops lifeline to civilians
-
US Fed holds firm against Trump pressure as divisions emerge
-
Michael Jackson's dirty sock sells for over $8,000 in France
-
Turkish city calls for help after heat tops 50C
-
Renault names Provost CEO after De Meo exit
-
Le Court makes history for Africa at women's Tour de France
-
Canada central bank holds rate steady citing US tariff 'threats'
-
Henry puts New Zealand in control of 1st Test against Zimbabwe
-
Stocks edge higher, dollar gains before tech earnings, Fed decision
-
Palestine Action wins bid to challenge terror ban in London court
-
EU urged to act on forests' faltering absorption of carbon
-
India secures return of ancient Buddhist gems
-
Stokes braced for 'emotional' tribute to late England batsman Thorpe
-
France's Luc Besson resurrects new 'romantic' Dracula
-
Trump hits India with 25% tariff and 'penalty' over Russia ties
-
Chinese sub discovers deepest-ever creatures 10 km undersea
NYSE - LSE
| RBGPF | 0.52% | 74.42 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.45% | 11.06 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.04% | 22.6 | $ | |
| BTI | 0.73% | 53.16 | $ | |
| NGG | -0.47% | 70.19 | $ | |
| RYCEF | -3.05% | 13.1 | $ | |
| GSK | 3.34% | 38.97 | $ | |
| RIO | -4.67% | 59.49 | $ | |
| SCS | -1.74% | 10.33 | $ | |
| RELX | -0.27% | 51.78 | $ | |
| SCU | 0% | 12.72 | $ | |
| AZN | 3.41% | 76.59 | $ | |
| CMSD | -0.26% | 23.06 | $ | |
| BCC | -1.47% | 84.89 | $ | |
| JRI | 0.38% | 13.11 | $ | |
| BCE | -0.55% | 23.53 | $ | |
| BP | -2.2% | 32.25 | $ |
Italy opens probe into Meta over AI tool in WhatsApp
Italy said Wednesday it opened a probe into social media giant Meta for potentially breaking EU competition laws by installing its AI tool into WhatsApp.
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Several months ago, its Meta AI tool appeared on the screens of the WhatsApp messaging service.
"In March 2025, Meta, which holds a dominant position in the market for consumer communications apps, decided to pre-install its artificial intelligence service on the WhatsApp app," Italy's antitrust body said in a statement.
"In doing so, Meta may be 'imposing' the use of its chatbot and AI assistance services on its users."
It said merging Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta could be "channelling its customer base into the emerging market, not through merit-based competition, but by 'imposing' the availability of the two distinct services upon users, potentially harming competitors."
The antitrust authority said it carried out an inspection of the premises of Meta's Italian subsidiary on Tuesday along with Italy's Financial Police.
It also said it was investigating the company "in close cooperation with the competent departments of the European Commission".
Italian authorities said there is a risk users could become "locked in" or "functionally dependent on Meta AI as "by using the information provided over time, it appears the responses generated by the service become increasingly useful and relevant."
N.Shalabi--SF-PST