Amazon's $1.7 Billion Takeover of iRobot Under Antitrust Review by US FTC: Report

The FCC is concerned about whether Amazon could use Roomba’s data for unfair advantage in retail.

Written by Siddhant Chandra, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 3 September 2022 11:46 IST

Amazon's $1.7 Billion Takeover of iRobot Under Antitrust Review by US FTC: Report

Photo Credit: Reuters

The FTC is investigating whether this deal would illegally boost Amazon’s market share

Highlights

Amazon, iRobot could be facing a lengthy investigation
It is trying to assess impact on Amazon’s increasing smart device lineup
Amazon is already a subject of wide-ranging monopolisation probe by FTC

Amazon announced earlier this month that it will acquire the makers of Roomba vacuum cleaners iRobot in a deal worth $1.7 billion (roughly Rs. 13,500 crore). It is now being reported that this deal is being reviewed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating antitrust laws. Both companies are understood to be preparing for a potentially lengthy investigation. Amazon is already the interest of a wide-ranging monopolisation probe by the FTC. Furthermore, the antitrust watchdog is investigating whether this deal would illegally boost Amazon's market share in the connected device market and the retail market.

According to a report by Politico, Amazon's takeover of the Roomba vacuum cleaner maker iRobot is being reviewed by the US FTC for being in violation of the country's antitrust laws.

It is believed that the antitrust watchdog is investigating whether this deal will give Amazon an unfair advantage in the connected device market and the retail market.

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The FTC is reportedly trying to determine the impact of this deal on Amazon's increasing catalogue of smart devices like the Ring security cameras.

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The antitrust watchdog is concerned with whether data being generated from users' homes by iRobot's Roomba vacuum cleaners could be used to gain an unfair advantage over other retailers. As per the report, Amazon and iRobot could be facing a lengthy and arduous investigation.

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