Italy has opened an investigation into technology company Meta for alleged violations of European Union law. The company is accused of adding its Meta AI assistant to WhatsApp without users’ consent.

The country’s antitrust watchdog said the agency could potentially impose temporary sanctions on the US company if the investigation is broadened.

The watchdog said on Wednesday that it was expanding the scope of the investigation it launched in July to include the updated terms of WhatsApp’s business platform.

The agency added that the company had initiated the process to apply possible temporary sanctions. These sanctions include suspending new regulations and restricting further additions of Meta AI to WhatsApp while the investigation continues. The sanctions will remain in place for as long as the investigation continues.