MILAN, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust authority

said on Wednesday it had broadened the scope of its

investigation into Meta Platforms ( META ) over allegations the

company abused its dominant position through the use of its

artificial intelligence tools on messaging service WhatsApp.

The authority said the new WhatsApp Business Solution terms,

introduced on October 15, and the integration of new Meta AI

interaction tools or features in WhatsApp could restrict output,

market access or technical development in the AI chatbot

services market.

Meta was not immediately available to comment.

The regulator, known as AGCM, said it could also adopt

interim measures over the terms of WhatsApp business solutions

and the inclusion of new Meta AI interaction tools or features

into WhatsApp.

The Italian regulator started the investigation in July.

The watchdog said at the time Meta may have violated

European Union competition rules by integrating its Meta AI

assistant into WhatsApp without user consent.