Amazon’s market power is enormous. In e-commerce, the company accounts for 60 percent of online sales in Germany. The Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) is taking action against the abuse of that power. This is an important, though long-overdue step.
Civil society organisations across Europe seriously regret the European Commission’s decision to unconditionally clear Google’s proposed acquisition of Wiz. The decision runs counter to lessons drawn from past under-enforcement in the digital sector, the Commission’s...
We are part of the Digital Merger Watch (DMW) project. In this project, we track Big Tech’s mergers and acquisitions. Here is our latest update.
Google intends to acquire the cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion. This would be the largest acquisition in Google’s history and another step toward strengthening Google’s market power. Together with partners, we have submitted a formal submission to the European Competition Authority, urging a thorough investigation of this merger.
Big tech companies are surprisingly flexible in how they exercise power over the development and control of technology. An empirical study by Aline Blankertz, Brianna Rock and Nicholas Shaxson shows that Google has an investment strategy that is shaping the global...
Over 70 press freedom groups and NGOs, businesses, experts, and think tanks have called on the European Commission to rejects Google’s offered remedies in the adtech antitrust case. The letter initiated by Open Markets Institute, Future of Tech Institute and Rebalance Now, calls for structural remedies to curb Google’s anti-competitive practices.
US tech companies are doing everything they can to undermine the enforcement of European laws. The EU must not allow itself to be intimidated by this. On the contrary. The European Commission must act decisively now and set the course.
The EU Commission is demanding that Google take action against its conflicts of interest. A break up remains on the table. The next few months will decide whether the EU will finally take action in the tense political climate.
The EU must limit the power of tech companies. It must not give in to Trump’s attacks on the EU’s digital laws. This is what we and over 50 alliance partners are calling for in a letter to von der Leyen. It is a problematic sign that the EU Commission is postponing a decision because of Google’s monopoly power.
A large majority of the French, German and Spanish public are in favour of the EU taking a tough stance on Big Tech, despite the risks to relations with the Trump administration. There is also support for breaking up Google.
