Amid Heightened Scrutiny in Europe, Amazon Drops Bid to Acquire iRobot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2024 

CONTACT: Ashley Woolheater, woolheater@openmarketsinstitute.org 

BRUSSELS – Open Markets Europe Director Max von Thun released the following statement regarding Amazon’s announcement it will no longer seek to acquire home robotics firm, iRobot. 

Regulators’ scrutiny of the deal followed calls from public interest organisations – including those led by Open Markets and our partners -- not to allow the ecommerce giant to acquire yet another company that would give Amazon access to significant amounts of consumers’ personal data as well as enable Amazon to undercut competition in the smart home devices space. 

“Today’s momentous news isn’t just about robot vacuums – it’s about checking the growing power a handful of giants have over our increasingly digital lives, including the devices we use within the four walls of our homes,” said Open Markets Europe Director Max von Thun. 

“Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot would not only have given it a strong foothold in the nascent home robotics market, but dramatically increased its surveillance capabilities by giving it access to the sensitive personal data collected by iRobot’s devices, including maps and video footage of people’s homes.” 

“The Commission should be applauded for standing up to Amazon and stopping it from adding yet another fiefdom to its sweeping digital empire. Following the Commission’s decision to block Booking’s takeover of eTraveli last September, the EU appears to be finally waking up to the immense threat posed by ever-more concentrated digital markets.” 

In February 2023, Open Markets, alongside partner organisations Foxglove, the Balanced Economy Project and SOMO, made a detailed submission to the European Commission calling on it to review Amazon’s proposed acquisition of iRobot. 

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