Amazon is reportedly on track to secure unconditional antitrust approval from the European Union for its $1.4 billion acquisition of iRobot, a leading robot vacuum manufacturer, according to insider sources.
As the EU's watchdog for competition, the European Commission has previously warned Amazon about possible issues with competition in the robot vacuum cleaner industry.
Despite this, the UK antitrust agency has already given the green light to the deal without conditions, following a preliminary review, according to a Reuters report.
The EU Commission is expected to make its final decision on the Amazon-iRobot deal by February 14, 2024, after extending the deadline due to insufficient information provided by the involved companies.
The acquisition, announced in August, is set to integrate iRobot's Roomba robot vacuum into Amazon's extensive portfolio of smart devices.
This portfolio includes the Alexa voice assistant, smart thermostats, security devices, and wall-mounted smart displays, further solidifying Amazon's presence in the smart home ecosystem, according to an article published by CNA.
Amazon Facing Backlash Over Removal of Documentary
In a parallel development, Amazon's recent removal of the documentary The Plot Against the President from its Prime Video streaming service has stirred controversy.
The Amanda Milius-directed documentary examines the Russiagate hoax and sheds light on alleged efforts by Democrats and the mainstream media to thwart the orderly transfer of power following the 2016 election.
Amazon's decision to pull the documentary has raised questions and concerns, with viewers left puzzled and filmmakers speculating about the motives behind the abrupt removal, as per a report from The Hindustan Times.
No Explanation Provided
The Plot Against the President has gained significant attention on Amazon since its late 2020 release, accumulating around 17,000 user reviews. Filmmaker Amanda Milius suggests that Amazon might be ideologically at odds with the film's content and was possibly embarrassed by its unexpected success on the platform.
This incident is not the first time Amazon has faced criticism for content decisions, particularly those concerning conservative perspectives. The streaming giant postponed The Plot Against the President for almost two weeks in 2020 for a "content review." Amazon has previously not streamed the Republican National Convention at primetime in 2020, unlike the Democratic National Convention.
Amazon has not explained why The Plot Against the President was removed, prompting many to speculate on its content control procedures and ideological biases.
The controversy surrounding the documentary removal comes amid broader debates about Big Tech's role in shaping content availability and the potential influence of ideological considerations in content moderation decisions.
