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

Amazon had announced earlier this month that it would acquire iRobot, maker of Roomba vacuum cleaners, in a deal valued at $1.7 billion (roughly Rs. 13,500 crore). It is now being reported that the 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 focus of an extensive antitrust investigation by the FTC. Additionally, the antitrust watchdog is investigating whether the deal will illegally increase Amazon’s market share in the connected device market and retail market.

According to A Report Via Politico , Amazon’s takeover of Roomba vacuum cleaner maker iRobot is being reviewed by the US FTC for violating the nation’s antitrust laws.

The antitrust watchdog is investigating whether the deal is believed to give Amazon an unfair advantage in the connected device market and the retail market.

The FTC is trying to determine the deal’s impact on Amazon’s growing catalog of smart devices, such as Ring security cameras.

The antitrust watchdog is concerned about whether data generated by iRobot’s Roomba vacuum cleaners from users’ homes could be used to gain an unfair advantage over other retailers. According to the report, Amazon and iRobot could face a long and difficult investigation.