PRESS STATEMENT - 15.05.2017

Today, The European Consumer Organisation has applied to be an interested third party to the European Commission’s competition investigations into Google’s Android and the WhatsApp/Facebook merger cases.

Google is being investigated for abusing the market dominance of its operating system Android. The Commission is also investigating if Facebook provided wrongful information during the acquisition of WhatsApp about the possibility to share user data from the messaging service with the social media company. Both investigations look at whether the companies’ market power in their sector and control of data have stifled competition.

Android, Facebook and WhatsApp are very widely used among European consumers. It is therefore crucial that the European Commission keeps the interests of consumers at the heart of both investigations.

Monique Goyens, Director General of The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) commented:

“The Commission’s competition investigations into Google’s Android and the Facebook/WhatsApp merger will resonate in and beyond Europe for consumers. With our application to become a third party we want to contribute to an outcome which has the consumer interest as a core objective.

“From chatting with friends and doing groceries to consulting our doctor or planning our travels, our daily activities are increasingly happening online. That is why it is crucial that what happens online is not constricted by a few dominant digital players. Choice is key for consumer welfare and regulators must remember this.”

Note: Interested third party means having the possibility to provide formal input to the European Commission on the different grounds of the investigations.