What happened
Brazil's competition watchdog, CADE, ordered Meta to suspend its WhatsApp policy that prohibited third-party AI companies from utilising its business API to offer chatbots. This directive temporarily removes Meta's control over the integration of external AI chatbot services on WhatsApp's business platform. Concurrently, CADE initiated an investigation to determine if the policy constitutes anti-competitive behaviour, thereby altering the operational conditions for API usage.
Why it matters
Platform operators and IT security now face increased exposure to unvetted third-party AI integrations on the WhatsApp business API. This action weakens Meta's control over the ecosystem of business API users and reduces visibility into the functionalities and data handling practices of external AI chatbots. Compliance teams bear a higher oversight burden for monitoring API partner activities and ensuring adherence to platform guidelines.
