After Italy, WhatsApp leaves Brazil out of its competitor chatbot restriction

WhatsApp Maintains AI Chatbot Access for Brazilian Users

WhatsApp has decided to let AI chatbot providers continue serving users with Brazilian phone numbers, following a recent directive from Brazil’s competition authority. The regulator had instructed Meta to halt its new policy, which would have blocked third-party, general-purpose chatbots from operating on WhatsApp through its business API.

According to the policy, which took effect today, developers and AI companies were initially given a 90-day transition period starting January 15. During this time, they were required to stop responding to user messages on WhatsApp and inform users that their chatbots would soon be unavailable on the platform.

However, Meta has now informed developers that these requirements do not apply to users with Brazilian country codes (+55). In a notice shared with AI providers, Meta clarified that developers are not obligated to notify Brazilian users of any changes or discontinue their chatbot services for them.

The notice states: “The obligation to stop responding to user messages and to implement pre-approved automated replies before January 15, 2026, is no longer in effect for users with Brazil’s +55 country code.”

WhatsApp has not yet issued an official response to requests for confirmation regarding this decision.

Impact of the New Policy

This updated policy affects general-purpose chatbots such as ChatGPT and Grok, restricting their use on WhatsApp. Importantly, it does not prevent businesses from using bots to provide customer support to their clients on the platform.

Brazil’s competition watchdog has announced an investigation into whether Meta’s policy unfairly disadvantages competitors and gives preferential treatment to Meta’s own AI chatbot, which is available on WhatsApp.

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Exemptions and Ongoing Investigations

Meta has previously granted a similar exception to users in Italy after the country’s competition authority objected to the policy in December. Meanwhile, the European Union has also launched an antitrust investigation into these new restrictions.

Meta continues to argue that AI chatbots are placing excessive demands on infrastructure originally intended for other business API uses. The company has suggested that users interested in alternative chatbots can access them outside of WhatsApp.

“These allegations are misguided,” a WhatsApp representative commented regarding the Brazilian investigation. “AI chatbots using our Business API have created technical challenges our systems weren’t built to handle. The idea that WhatsApp should function as an app store is incorrect. AI companies should reach users through app stores, their own websites, or industry partnerships—not through the WhatsApp Business Platform.”