FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 06, 2023

CONTACT: Max von Thun, vonthun@openmarketsinstitute.org

Open Markets Institute Europe Director Max von Thun puts out a statement welcoming the EC on its investigation into Amazon/iRobot:

“The European Commission should be commended for its decision to launch an in-depth investigation into Amazon’s planned takeover of iRobot. Since this problematic deal was announced, Open Markets and its allies have been warning the Commission and other regulators of the serious threat it poses to fair competition and individual privacy. We are delighted to see our concerns taken on board with this investigation.

 This deal is about far more than just vacuum cleaners. It would eliminate a potential future competitor in the larger smart home market, and give Amazon exclusive access to the sensitive data that iRobot’s devices collect in people’s homes. Amazon’s access to that data would not only reinforce its anti-competitive moat, as the Commission acknowledges, but – in view of Amazon’s awful track record on data protection – also put at the risk the privacy of millions of citizens in Europe and beyond.

 As this week’s landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice clearly signalled, tackling the power of the tech giants will require regulators to break down the stubborn silo between privacy and competition law. This investigation provides an opportunity to put that idea into practice, and deal another blow to the invasive surveillance practices at the heart of Big Tech’s exploitative business model.”

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