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WhatsApp Reverses Bot Ban in Brazil After Regulatory Pressure

WhatsApp is now allowing AI providers to continue offering their chatbots to users with Brazilian phone numbers, reversing course after the country’s competition regulator ordered the company to suspend its new policy. The policy, which went into effect today, bars third-party, general-purpose chatbots from being offered on the app via its business API.

Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, informed developers that they do not have to notify users with Brazilian phone numbers (identified by the +55 country code) of any changes or cease offering their services. This decision effectively exempts Brazil from the restrictions imposed on other regions. According to a notice to AI providers seen by TechCrunch, the requirement to cease responding to user queries and implement pre-approved auto-reply language before January 15, 2026, no longer applies when messaging people with a Brazil country code.

The original policy, announced earlier this month, provided a 90-day grace period starting January 15 for developers and AI providers. It mandated that they stop responding to user queries on WhatsApp and notify users that their chatbots would no longer function on the platform. This policy primarily impacts general-purpose chatbots such as ChatGPT and Grok, which rely on WhatsApp's business API to interact with users.

The move to exclude Brazil follows an order from the country's competition regulator, which raised concerns about the potential impact of the ban on the local chatbot ecosystem. The regulator's intervention highlights the growing scrutiny of Meta's policies and their potential effects on competition and innovation in different markets.

WhatsApp did not immediately respond to a request for comment confirming the decision to exclude Brazil from the chatbot ban. The company's silence leaves unanswered questions about the specific reasons for the reversal and the long-term implications for its relationship with AI developers and users in Brazil. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as WhatsApp navigates the regulatory landscape and the evolving demands of the AI industry.

AI-Assisted Journalism

This article was generated with AI assistance, synthesizing reporting from multiple credible news sources. Our editorial team reviews AI-generated content for accuracy.

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