The Comesa Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCC) has initiated a probe into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, amid allegations that it restricted third-party artificial intelligence chatbots from operating on the messaging platform.
The move adds Comesa to a growing list of global regulators scrutinising Meta over potential anti-competitive behaviour in various markets.
The inquiry follows a complaint by AdLegal International, a Ugandan non-profit, which claims Meta changed the WhatsApp Business Solution Terms in October 2025 to block independent AI providers from accessing tools required to integrate their chatbots with the app.
The organisation contends that the changes favour Meta’s own AI systems while excluding competitors.
According to AdLegal, the amendment effectively denies access to the WhatsApp business application programming interface (API) for a range of services including Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, ChatGPT, as well as locally developed chatbot solutions.
Without access, these services cannot allow users to engage directly with automated chat features through WhatsApp, while Meta’s own system continues to operate seamlessly.
“The Commission has cause to suspect,that the unilateral amendments to the WhatsApp Business Solution Terms is likely to substantially lessen competition,” said Willard Mwemba, the CEO of the commission.
He emphasised that the watchdog is reviewing whether the platform’s restrictions constitute abuse of dominant position under Comesa’s competition rules.
If the claims are confirmed, the case could affect how international technology companies manage services within Eastern and Southern Africa, potentially requiring corrective action to ensure fair access for third-party developers.
The commission’s investigation aligns with ongoing probes in the European Union, Italy, Brazil, and South Africa, where authorities have been examining Meta’s handling of WhatsApp and third-party integration.
Regulators are now assessing the impact of the platform’s revised business terms on the competitiveness of AI chatbot providers, including both global and regional solutions.
The outcome will determine whether Meta’s policies on WhatsApp violated competition laws and whether remedial measures will be necessary to restore a level playing field in the market.
