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Here we go: @Amazon latest Big Tech giant to face #antitrust charges in Europe. Announcement expected at 12:30 CET https://politi.co/2IkdC9l (HT: @JavierespFT for initial scoop)
Should add: these are just charges against Amazon, not remedies/fines (yet). That’s the next step.
Announcement expected any minute now. Watch along here https://bit.ly/2OhFz0q
Waiting for @Vestager to take the stage. Worth noting: Commission is about to drop a bunch of new competition proposals aimed at ‘gatekeepers’ like Amazon, Googlel & Facebook in early December.
The timing of this announcement is, um, interesting.
The timing of this announcement is, um, interesting.
Boom. Charges against @Amazon’s use of third-party sellers’ data to favor its own services.
ALSO: new investigation into Amazon’s alleged misuse of “Buy Box”
Double whammy
ALSO: new investigation into Amazon’s alleged misuse of “Buy Box”
Double whammy
Charges on Amazon’s services in Germany & France — the tech giant’s biggest markets in EU
. @Amazon’s response
. @Vestager: “This is a case about big data.” Says that this is about how Amazon collects data across its entire marketplace, not about its data collection on one specific third-party seller
Stat: Vestager says Amazon only provides its own label goods in 10% of overall products, but generates 50% of profits in those specific categories
For me, this 2nd investigation, into Amazon’s ‘buy box,’ is bigger issue. Why? It’s about pushing third-party retailers into Amazon’s ecosystem — crucial if Amazon is seen as dominant “gatekeeper”
That investigation will likely take at least a year.
That investigation will likely take at least a year.
Current scenes inside @Google
Interesting from @Vestager: “There is now a global conversation about how to deal with the fact that some of the platforms seem to be either gatekeepers or de facto monopolies in a number of markets that are very important for the development of our economies."
Couple of interesting things from today’s @Amazon #antitrust announcement:
By charging that Amazon misused third-party sellers data for its own benefit, Commission is calling BS on Amazon’s long-held view that there’s a Chinese wall over over how that data is collected/used.
In its new investigation today, there are hallmarks of how Brussels went after Google in vertical shopping search — favoring itself/others who used its other services in different market.
Also: market defintion — Commission pretty much drawing a circle around Amazon’s online marketplace model, whereas Amazon says it’s a small fry in the wider retail world.
That’s going to end up in the appeal if/when that comes down
That’s going to end up in the appeal if/when that comes down
Also: warning on coverage that says Amazon will be fined tens of billions of $$. Sure, that’s the possible maximum fine. But, in all likelihood, any possible fine will be significant less than that
