Washington (AFP)

The noose is tightening on the tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft, suspected of not respecting the rules of competition: the authorities will scrutinize their acquisitions of the last ten years.

These companies, grouped under the acronym GAFAM, have been formally summoned by the FTC, the American agency responsible for consumer protection and competition, to provide information and documents relating to their transactions carried out between January 1, 2010 and on December 31, 2019, according to a FTC press release.

The agency did not cite any transactions in particular. However, it relies on the fact that these companies did not comply with the regulations which require that documents be lodged with the authorities ensuring non-competition.

The FTC therefore intends to determine whether these may have harmed competition and consumers.

"Digital technology companies are an important part of the economy and our daily lives," said FTC President Joe Simons, who was quoted in the statement as saying.

"This initiative will allow the Commission to take a closer look at acquisitions in this important sector and also to assess whether the federal agencies" have been notified "of transactions likely to harm competition", he added. .

In the United States, the FTC shares the role of competition authority with the Department of Justice.

Anticipating criticism of an announcement effect, Joe Simons assured in a press conference call that the move could lead to action, although experts on monopoly issues raise legal and practical issues. 'a possible attempt to "denounce" past acquisitions.

"This could result in the termination" of past agreements, said Simons without naming the operations involved.

The question remains as to whether the FTC will review Facebook's acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp or Google's takeover of smart home maker Nest, previously authorized by antitrust authorities.

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In detail, the orders issued by the FTC and unveiled Tuesday oblige the GAFAM "to provide information and documents on their business acquisition strategies, the voting and appointment agreements to the board of directors, the agreements of 'hiring staff ".

The targeted companies will also have to disclose information relating to the pricing of post-acquisition products.

The Commission therefore expects to determine whether these transactions may have raised competition concerns.

In addition, it will examine how "small businesses" have evolved since they were acquired by these major technology companies.

Some analysts, however, downplayed the likelihood that the FTC review would lead to major action.

"It is far too early to speculate as to whether this will lead to lawsuits aimed at undoing agreements. These are rare and difficult," said Avery Gardiner, a former lawyer for the Justice Ministry in charge. cartels and antitrust, now a member of the Center for Democracy & Technology.

Investigations have multiplied in recent years on these giants without, however, worrying them for the time being.

At the federal level, a vast investigation into possible anti-competitive practices by the giants of Silicon Valley, Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, was thus launched in late July 2019 by the United States Department of Justice.

Amazon and Apple are particularly in the crosshairs of the States. Critics argue that Amazon has a dominant position in online commerce, while Apple would disadvantage rivals who offer their services on the App Store.

The FTC's initiative comes at a time when Congress, the Judicial Commission of the House of Representatives is also investigating GAFA practices.

The agency is also conducting a separate investigation into Facebook and the effects on competitors of the takeover of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Facebook, the world's leading social network, has always rejected monopoly accusations, arguing that consumers have many choices about how to interact online.

© 2020 AFP