The companies contacted consumers with offers to activate energy and phone service contracts and provided misleading information regarding the caller’s identity, the reason for the call and the financial benefits of the proposed offers.

The Italian Competition Authority has imposed over 500,000 euro in fines on call centre companies promoting energy contracts (Titanium S.r.l. and Fire S.r.l.; J.Wolf Consulting S.r.l.) and contracts in the telecommunications sector (Nova Group S.r.l. and Communicate S.r.l.; Entiende S.r.l.). Specifically, the Authority imposed a fine of 160,000 euro jointly on Titanium S.r.l. and Fire S.r.l., 120,000 euro on J.Wolf Consulting S.r.l., 80,000 euro on Nova Group S.r.l. and 40,000 euro on Communicate S.r.l., 120,000 euro on Entiende S.r.l.

The Authority established that these companies contacted consumers with offers to activate energy and phone service contracts, based on misleading information regarding the caller’s identity, the reason for the call and the financial benefits of the proposed offers. In practice, the companies employed a variety of telemarketing methods, all involving the transmission of unclear, incomplete and misleading information.

In the energy sector, call-centre operators were found to pose as staff of regulatory and supervisory Authorities or of a “utilities billing support centre”, and to inform consumers of supposed regulatory price increases or alleged irregularities (duplicate activation of supplies on a single account or switching-related problems), with the aim to persuade consumers to sign a new supply agreement. In the telecommunications sector, call-centre operators claimed to be working for the technical or administrative department of the consumer’s current provider and falsely reported imminent service disruptions, or the expiry of the tariff plan under the existing contract and price increases from the user’s current provider. They also claimed that these events could be avoided by activating a new offer with a different operator at particularly favourable contract terms, which later proved to be false.

This conduct was therefore found to affect consumers’ freedom to make an informed decision when selecting a provider, as it impaired their ability to assess the benefits of available offers through the provision of false information, in breach of Articles 20, 21 and 22 of the Consumer Code.

The Authority reminds consumers that the website www.difenditicosi.it provides useful information regarding their rights and the tools to protect themselves from persistent and aggressive call-centre practices.

Rome, 9 December 2025

• Text of the decision Fire
• Text of the decision J.Wolf Consulting
• Text of the decision Nova Group
• Text of the decision Entiende

Measures benefiting consumers following shortcomings in the regularity of local public transport (both surface and metro services). Company to hire additional staff and improve user information channels.

The Italian Competition Authority has accepted commitments from ATAC S.p.A., closing its investigation opened in February 2025 into a breach of Section 20 of the Consumer Code. The case was opened after the Authority raised concerns that, between 2021 and 2023, the company had systematically failed to meet its frequency and quality targets for surface and metro local public transport services in Rome, without taking steps to address shortcomings in service regularity or granting users any fare adjustment or compensation for the disruptions suffered. 

All consumers who held an annual pass valid for at least one day in 2024 will receive refunds worth more than €3 million in total. Specifically, each annual Metrebus card holder will be entitled to a €5 refund, increased by an additional €5 for those who also had an active pass for at least one other year between 2021 and 2023. Through its app, ATAC will also launch an innovative compensation scheme – unique within the local public transport sector – allowing annual Metrebus card holders to receive compensation if the service they plan to board is delayed by more than 15 minutes. Each delay will result in a €0.50 refund, credited to a digital wallet in the ATAC app, which users can spend on travel tickets for themselves or for others.

The company has also agreed to hire new staff and train part of its current workforce to serve as station agents in metro stations, with an annual investment of €2.6 million. ATAC will improve the information available to users by making the services already featured on its official website – such as the route planner and the booking service for mobility-assistance equipment – more visible. Lastly, the company will adopt a compliance programme to monitor and prevent conduct that may harm consumer rights.

Rome, 3 December 2025

Text of the decision

Text of the commitments

The company, active in the promotion and resale of maritime transport tickets in the Mediterranean, failed to provide important and timely information regarding its role as an “intermediary” and the specific features of its services

The Italian Competition Authority has closed its investigation opened in April 2025 into Prenotazioni24 s.r.l., imposing a 500,000 euro fine on the company for engaging in unfair commercial practices.

The Authority found that the company uses websites whose names and graphic layout closely resemble those of the main ferry companies for which Prenotazioni24 acts as a reseller. It also presents the www.traghetti.it website as a comparison platform and does not adequately disclose – at the first point of contact – its direct connection with the company. As a result, ticket purchases are subject to specific sales conditions, including the application of service fees. Lastly, Prenotazioni24 fails to provide clear information regarding the overall presentation of prices and offers on the www.traghettilines.it website.

Presenting misleading information and/or omitting important and timely information regarding the identity of the service provider and the total cost of travel tickets constitute an unfair commercial practice in breach of Articles 20, 21 and 22 of the Consumer Code.

Rome, 1 December 2025

Text of the decision

The company, which sells parapharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medicines online through the farmae.it and amicafarmacia.com websites, published misleading claims about product availability and delivery times, made partial or late deliveries, and delayed refunds following withdrawals or order cancellations

The Italian Competition Authority has imposed a 2 million euro fine on Talea Group S.p.A., active in the online sale of parapharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medicines. At least since November 2023, the company has engaged in an unfair commercial practice in breach of the Consumer Code, consisting in the publication of misleading claims regarding the availability and delivery times of its online products.

The Authority’s investigation also found that Talea Group made partial or late deliveries, delayed refunds following withdrawals or unilateral order cancellations, and failed to offer adequate after-sales customer support.

While noting some positive steps taken by the company during the investigation, the Authority has required Talea Group S.p.A. to inform it of the measures put in place to bring these practices to an end within sixty days of being notified the decision.

Rome, 1 December 2025

Text of the decision

The companies Bird Rides Italy S.r.l., EmTransit S.r.l. and Lime Technology S.r.l. appear to have prevented Metrebus subscribers from using their free ride package

The Italian Competition Authority has launched an investigation into Bird Rides Italy S.r.l., EmTransit S.r.l. and Lime Technology S.r.l. over a possible unfair commercial practice in relation to the electric micromobility sharing service in the Municipality of Rome.

The three operators, the sole providers authorised to deliver micromobility services (e-bikes and e-scooters) within the municipal territory for the 2023-2026 period, seem to have prevented the use of free ride packages reserved for citizens with an annual Metrebus card (which grants users access to local public transport in Rome), by considerably delaying the activation of the free package (so-called Pass).

In particular, the complaints received by the Authority reveal that annual Metrebus card holders who use their account or create one specifically to benefit from the free ride package, experience lengthy waiting times between requesting activation of the Pass and being able to use it. Customers who sent reminders and complaints to the companies’ customer service reportedly received inconclusive responses instructing them to wait for their request to be processed.

Inspections at the premises of the three companies were carried out on Tuesday 25 November by the Authority’s officials, assisted by the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza).

Rome, 27 November 2025

According to the Authority, the new WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, introduced on 15 October 2025, and the integration of new Meta AI interaction tools or features into WhatsApp may limit production, market access or technical developments in the AI Chatbot services market.

The Italian Competition Authority has broadened the scope of the investigation proceedings launched into Meta Platforms Inc., Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, WhatsApp Ireland Limited and Facebook Italy S.r.l. – referred to as Meta – with respect to the WhatsApp Business Solution Terms. These terms exclude from the WhatsApp platform, as of 15 October 2025, Meta AI’s competitors in the AI Chatbot services market.

Alongside broadening the scope of its ongoing investigation, the Authority has also opened a procedure for the possible adoption of interim measures under Section 14-bis of Law 287/1990, with respect to the new WhatsApp Business Solution Terms (introduced on 15 October 2025) and the integration of new Meta AI interaction tools or features into WhatsApp.

According to the Authority, this change to the contractual terms could limit production, market access or technical developments in the AI Chatbot services market, to the detriment of consumers, and may amount to a possible violation of Article 102 TFEU.

Furthermore, the Authority deems Meta’s violation of competition rules capable of severely and irreparably undermining the contestability of the market, due to consumers’ limited propensity to change their habits, which hampers switching to competing services.

Rome, 26 November 2025

Text of the decision

The company will provide more detailed and accurate information on the combination and cross-use of personal data across its services

The Italian Competition Authority has closed with commitments its investigation launched in July 2024 into Google’s request for consent to “linking” user activity across its services.

As a result of the Authority’s intervention, Google will change its consent request by providing clearer and more accurate information on the implications of consent for the use of personal data, as well as on the range and volume of Google’s services (including AI services, such as Gemini) where consent may involve the “combination” and “cross-use” of personal data.

The company will also offer clearer and more accurate information on how users can tailor – and thus also limit – their consent by choosing to grant it only for certain services, and clarify that when the services are not linked, the vast majority of features will remain unaffected. Moreover, Google will send a personal notice to all Italian users who will already have expressed a preference by the time the new consent request is released, summarising their choice and drawing their attention to the information contained in the new consent request.

Rome, 21 November 2025

Text of the decision

Text of the commitments

The company spread misleading and incomplete advertising messages to promote the online sale of alcoholic beverages at promotional prices

The Italian Competition Authority has imposed a 150,000 euro fine on Tannico s.r.l. for an unfair commercial practice. Through its website www.tannico.it and the Tannico app, the company advertised alcoholic beverages using misleading and incomplete price reduction claims.

In particular, Tannico s.r.l. promoted many products as being “on sale”, while the prices labelled as “promotional” were actually higher than or equal to the lowest price applied in the previous 30 days, in violation of consumer protection rules on the accuracy of information about the true economic benefit of promotions. In mid-July 2025, during the investigation, the company changed its website and app, thereby bringing the infringement to an end.

Rome, 17 November 2025

Text of the decision

The company promoted its annual “Wizz All You Can Fly” subscription without providing adequate and timely information on the limitations of the offer. The unfair nature of certain terms contained in the original version of the general terms and conditions has also been established.

The Italian Competition Authority has imposed a 500,000 euro fine on low-cost airline Wizz Air Hungary Ltd after finding that it breached the provisions of the Consumer Code on unfair commercial practices and unfair contract terms. The Authority’s investigation focused on the annual “Wizz All You Can Fly” subscription service, which enables subscribers to fly at a fixed fare on all international routes operated by the airline, for a price of 599.00 euro (499.00 euro during the early stage of the promotion).

In particular, the Authority established that Wizz Air’s promotional campaigns presented the service as an unlimited subscription, failing however to provide adequate and timely information on the limitations placed on its use. As a result, the pre-contractual information given to consumers on the features of the subscription was incomplete and ambiguous, especially with regard to the booking windows for individual flights, the number and type of seats available to subscribers on each flight, and further limitations on the use of the service.

The Authority also found a number of terms in the original version of the general terms and conditions to be unfair. These allowed Wizz Air to change the terms and conditions of the service or to discontinue it altogether, without providing valid reasons or adequate safeguards for consumers. In addition to hindering the right to a pro rata refund, the terms in question restricted the right of withdrawal in the event of suspension or termination of the service, including where the airport concerned was the one designated by the consumer as their preferred hub. The unfair terms resulted in a significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of subscribers.

The Authority has ordered that an excerpt of its final decision be published on Wizz Air’s website.

Rome, 14 November 2025

Text of the decision