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Meta is now allowing rival AI companies to provide their chatbots on WhatsApp to Brazilian users for a fee, a day after the company confirmed a similar decision for users in Europe<\/a>.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Brazil\u2019s antitrust regulator CADE ruled against Meta<\/a> and rejected its appeal to block an earlier order to suspend its policy change that seeks to bar third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon reviewing the case, the\u00a0CADE Tribunal determined that the necessary requirements for maintaining the preventive measure were present. According to the case rapporteur, Councilor Carlos Jacques, there is evidence of legal plausibility, considering the relevance of WhatsApp in the Brazilian instant messaging services market,\u201d CADE\u2019s ruling reads<\/a>.<\/p>\n The regulator added that banning third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp \u201cwould not be proportionate\u201d and could result in competitive harm.<\/p>\n Meta said in response that it would let third-party AI chatbot providers use its WhatsApp Business API to offer their services on the app for a fee, wherever it is legally required to do so. The company will charge $0.0625 per \u201cnon-template message\u201d in Brazil from March 11.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere we are legally required to provide AI chatbots through the WhatsApp business API, we are introducing pricing for the companies that choose to use our platform to provide those services,\u201d a Meta spokesperson said.<\/p>\n