Brazilian authorities launched an investigation after WhatsApp banned third-party AI chatbots.
Meta’s* move to block AI chatbots from WhatsApp has drawn formal antitrust complaints and an injunction request in Brazil, according to the country’s competition authority.
Last Wednesday it shared the complaint with Meta from AI services Luzia and Zapia, asking for feedback. It has opened a "preparatory procedure" – a very preliminary investigation.
The change to WhatsApp’s terms has already drawn an antitrust probe in Italy together with a threat of interim measures. The EU’s antitrust watchdog has said it is monitoring the situation.
The joint complaint, registered by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, or CADE, on Nov. 21, 2025, alleges that Meta engaged in an "embrace, extend, and extinguish" strategy: It had allegedly encouraged AI chatbot services to invest in integrating their services with WhatsApp only to now expel them from the platform. Meta’s own AI service will remain on WhatsApp.
The companies ask the authority to suspend the October policy-change pending its investigation.
Brazilian investigators on Wednesday asked Meta to respond by Dec. 8, 2025.
A spokesperson for Meta pointed to a statement Wednesday, where it "strongly" rejected similar antitrust allegations in Italy: "The WhatsApp API was never designed to be used for AI chatbots and doing so would place severe strain on our systems."
Certain types of AI chatbots would remain on WhatsApp, Meta has said.
Luzia is a chatbot founded by Factoría Elcano, a Spanish company. Zapia is developed by BrainLogic, which is registered in Uruguay.
*banned and designated as extremist in Russia
Source: MLex
