Meta Platforms has announced that rival artificial intelligence companies will be allowed to offer AI chatbots on WhatsApp in Brazil through the platform’s WhatsApp Business API, following a ruling from Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE. The decision comes after the regulator rejected Meta’s appeal to block an earlier order preventing restrictions on third-party AI chatbot services.
CADE concluded that prohibiting external AI chatbots from operating on WhatsApp could harm competition in Brazil’s messaging market, noting the platform’s dominant role in the country’s communications ecosystem. In response, Metasaid companies will be permitted to integrate AI chatbot services where regulations require it.
The company confirmed it will charge $0.0625 per non-template message for AI chatbot services delivered through the WhatsApp Business API in Brazil beginning March 11.
The policy shift follows scrutiny of Meta’s earlier decision to restrict external chatbot providers while promoting its own Meta AI assistant within the messaging platform.
Brazilian AI startup Zapia, one of the companies involved in the complaint filed with CADE, said the ruling supports open competition and broader access to AI tools for users across digital platforms.
