The EU’s actions reflect growing concern over the power of big technology companies and its impact on competition and innovation in the digital economy. Semiconductor company Broadcom is under scrutiny at the US Federal Trade Commission for potential anticompetitive conduct related to semiconductors used in data. Written by Charlie Osborne, Contributing.
#Gets antitrust scrutiny on data usage series
The investigation marks the latest in a series of antitrust probes by the EU into technology giants, including Google and Amazon. Amazon data usage to feature in new UK antitrust probe: report Reports suggest a formal investigation into potential merchant favoritism is planned. Google is on the receiving end of another wave of antitrust scrutiny in Europe. The company has also emphasized its commitment to competition and innovation, stating that it believes that its cloud services are providing customers with a range of choices and opportunities to enhance their businesses. Microsoft has responded to the investigation by stating that it is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations and that it will cooperate fully with the European Commission. The antitrust probe will also examine Microsoft’s data policies and whether they comply with EU regulations. The investigation will focus on whether Microsoft is using its control of Azure cloud service to favor its own products and services over those of its competitors, as well as whether it is hindering customers from accessing and using alternative cloud providers. The four-dozen questions follow up on information requests issued this summer.According to the report from the Bloomberg, the European Commission will take action regarding the concerns that Microsoft may be using its dominant market position to stifle competition and innovation. The regulator also explores whether a possible market for classified ads could be divided according to whether they feature real estate, vehicles or job listings, or run through a website or an app. In that light, the questions seek examples of newcomers to the market or any companies that have left over the past five years. The commission also wants to explore the functioning of advertising markets more broadly, assessing their geographic scope as well as the dynamics between classified ads and other forms such as display ads, personal social networks and general search ads. business to Binance, announced Tuesday amid concerns over stability at FTX, has drawn concerns of antitrust retaliation. Officials return again and again to the subject of data, exploring how classified-ad websites employ Facebook’s own advertising service and at what cost, and asking for a description of any agreements involving data-sharing. Facebook Social Plugins include the “like” and “share” buttons that allow users to share their experiences on other websites with their friends on Facebook. Antitrust investigators are scrutinizing plans by Google to use a new internet protocol in a way that some say could make it harder for other companies to access consumer data. Similarly, the commission wants to understand what data Facebook gets, and what it can do with it, when websites and apps make use of Facebook's Login and Social plugins.įacebook Login is a service that allows consumers to simply use their Facebook account to log into a third-party site, without needing to create a new account. They can refine their searches to home in on particular regions or cities.ĮU officials are looking into the agreements between Facebook and users of the Marketplace platform and the data the social network gathers through those relationships.įor instance, the commission is asking for details on companies’ agreements to list their products on Marketplace, how important access to the platform is for users, what data they have to give up as a condition for using the platform, and what Facebook is entitled to do with it. Marketplace is a Facebook platform designed for buyers and sellers, allowing users to shop for goods such as electronics, clothes or household appliances online. The responses were due last month, MLex understands. The commission is also trying to assess the impact on classified ads websites of the rollout of Facebook Marketplace. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is due to testify in Congress the company is facing an antitrust.
The social-media giant’s ability to gather data from companies that use its platform as well as the functioning of its classified-ad service appear to be the two main areas of focus for antitrust enforcers at this stage. The report comes as Google’s business is facing an intense amount of antitrust scrutiny in the US. The detailed and lengthy question-sheets are the latest sign that the European Commission is ramping up its inquiry into the owner of Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, amid intensifying scrutiny of Big Tech firms in Europe.
Facebook’s access to data through interfaces such as Login and Social Plugins is in the sights of EU antitrust enforcers in fresh questionnaires probing the impact of the company’s “Marketplace” on classified ad businesses, MLex has learned.
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