Brazil Orders Meta to Suspend Policy Banning Third-Party AI Chatbots from WhatsApp

Brazil's competition watchdog has ordered WhatsApp to put on hold its policy that bars third-party AI companies from using its business API to offer chatbots on the app. The agency has also started an investigation against the company to determine if the policy is anti-competitive.

The move comes after several third-party AI chatbot developers expressed concerns that the policy would stifle innovation and limit competition in the market. WhatsApp's policy change was announced in December 2025, and it was set to take effect on January 15, 2026.

The Brazilian agency's decision to suspend the policy is seen as a victory for third-party AI chatbot developers, who argue that the policy would have given WhatsApp too much control over the market.

The investigation into WhatsApp's policy is ongoing, and the agency has not yet made any conclusions about the matter. However, the suspension of the policy is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role of third-party AI chatbots in the messaging app ecosystem.

Sources

[7] Brazil orders Meta to suspend policy banning third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp