Meta's WhatsApp exempts Brazil from rival chatbot ban after regulator crackdown
SAO PAULO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Meta's META.O WhatsApp excluded Brazil from its ban on rival artificial intelligence tools, such as chatbots, company documents showed, complying with the local antitrust body's order to suspend the restriction in the country.
WhatsApp Business, the app's business version, had announced last year user terms banning AI providers and developers "from accessing or using" it.
But an updated version of the terms published on Thursday on WhatsApp's website excluded Brazil from the ban.
"(However) such technologies may be made available to WhatsApp users who have registered phone numbers with an Italian or Brazilian country code," the document said.
Meta had already said it would exclude Italy from the ban after a similar order from the Italian watchdog.
Lawyers representing Meta informed CADE that the firm was complying with the body's ruling, a separate document showed on Friday.
POTENTIAL ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES
Brazil's antitrust body CADE on Monday ordered Meta to suspend the new terms in the country while it investigates whether they represent "anti-competitive practices".
CADE's investigation came after complaints from AI chatbot providers.
Meta will appeal CADE's decision, a spokesperson said, adding WhatsApp Business is not the appropriate channel for AI firms to enter the market.
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