**Breaking News: WhatsApp Reverses Stance on Third-Party Chatbots in Brazil – But What Does it Mean for Users?**
Just when we thought we knew where things were headed, WhatsApp has done a 180 with its policy on third-party chatbots in Brazil. In a surprise move, the company has announced that it will allow AI providers to continue offering their chatbots to users with Brazilian phone numbers, despite the country’s competition regulator ordering it to suspend its new policy.
As of today, the 90-day grace period has begun, giving developers and AI providers the chance to stop responding to user queries and notify users that their chatbots will no longer work on WhatsApp. Or, you know, just keep on truckin’ – because, apparently, users with Brazilian phone numbers (with code +55) don’t need to be notified of any changes or stop using their favorite chatbots.
This means that users from Brazil will still have access to chatbots like ChatGPT and Grok, at least for now. The company’s new policy is aimed at general-purpose chatbots, but there’s a notable exception: businesses are still allowed to offer customer support through bots within WhatsApp.
So, what’s behind this sudden change of heart? Brazil’s competition agency, Cade, had been investigating whether Meta’s terms are exclusionary to rivals and unfairly favor its own chatbot service, Meta AI. Meanwhile, Italy’s competition agency took issue with the policy back in December, and the EU has launched an antitrust investigation into the new rules.
WhatsApp’s argument is that AI chatbots are straining its systems, which were designed for different uses of its business API. “We understand that some companies are trying to make a profit from our platform, but we can’t let them do it at the expense of our users,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said in response to Cade’s probe.
But what does this mean for users? Will chatbots continue to work on the platform, or will this be a temporary reprieve? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – WhatsApp’s stance on third-party chatbots remains a contentious issue.
**What do you think about WhatsApp’s latest move? Share your thoughts in the comments below!**
**Update:** I originally stated that WhatsApp had effectively banned chatbots from Brazil, but it seems that’s not the case. While the company’s new policy doesn’t require developers to notify users with Brazilian phone numbers, it also doesn’t guarantee that chatbots will continue to work on the platform.
**Sources:**
* TechCrunch: [Source link](https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/after-italy-whatsapp-excludes-brazil-from-rival-chatbot-ban/)
