Brazil orders Meta to keep third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp

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In short: Brazil’s competition authority ordered Meta to pause a planned WhatsApp restriction, keeping third-party AI chatbots available in Brazil while an investigation continues.

What happened

Brazil’s competition authority, called CADE, told Meta on January 12 to 13, 2026, to suspend a planned ban on third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp. CADE said there were early signs Meta might be using its power in messaging to block competitors.

Meta had updated its WhatsApp Business terms in October 2025. The change would have stopped companies whose main product is an AI chatbot from using WhatsApp’s Business API (an official connection that lets a service plug into WhatsApp, like using a reserved doorway instead of the front entrance). Meta said the reason was strain on WhatsApp’s systems, and it said customer service bots used by businesses were not the target.

The restriction was set to take effect globally on January 15, 2026. But Brazil, identified by the +55 country code, was exempted after CADE’s order. Italy had already received a similar exemption after regulatory scrutiny there.

CADE’s order included a daily fine of R$250,000 if Meta did not comply. CADE also said it had not seen evidence that third-party chatbots were harming WhatsApp’s operations.

Some recent reporting suggested Meta might charge developers so rival chatbots can keep operating in places with regulatory requirements, such as Brazil and Italy. However, based on the information available in January 2026 reports, there is no confirmed, implemented policy that allows paid access in Brazil.

Why it matters

WhatsApp is widely used in Brazil. If regulators ultimately decide Meta cannot block outside chatbots, Brazilian users may keep more options for AI assistants inside the app, instead of being pushed toward Meta’s own tools.

Source: TechCrunch AI