Progressives opposed Amazon’s $1.7 billion bid for iRobot the moment it was announced in August 2022. They claimed without evidence that Amazon would undermine Roomba rivals selling in the company’s online marketplace and use the smart vacuum to spy on American homes. But they mostly worried that the acquisition would make Amazon more powerful.
“Amazon has fully leveraged its monopoly power and is ‘almost universally recognized’ as the leader in warehouse and fulfillment robotics space,” Ms. Warren and other progressives wrote to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan in September 2022. The deal “would open up a new market to Amazon’s abuses.”
The FTC around that time began reviewing the deal. In July 2023 the European Commission opened its own investigation, focusing on dubious concerns that Amazon would favor iRobot over rivals. Yet the U.K.’s competition regulators cleared the deal last year and said Amazon wouldn’t have an incentive to undercut Roomba competitors.
Sen. Warren and Ms. Khan have won a pyrrhic victory. iRobot said Monday it is cutting about 31% of its workforce and research and development spending by “offshoring of non-core engineering functions to lower-cost regions.” iRobot said it will also pause “all work related to non-floorcare innovations.”
Warren knows exactly what she is doing. Getting headlines in her state while costing jobs where people don’t vote for her
Heard Lina Khan on CNBC. Downright scary. Her definition of her role is the FTC has a say in everything. She is a communist.
@DreadfulCoconutRepublican4mos4MO
@C1v1cDutyHyenaLibertarian4mos4MO
There is no reason to fear artificial intelligence, but there is every reason to fear the natural stupidity of the Biden Administration.
@Sw1ngStatePhilRepublican4mos4MO
Amazon injects inexpensive Chinese production made without any regulations directly into the veins of Americans. Like heroin. Heavily-regulated American producers simply can’t compete. They don’t offshore. They simply close. In addition to their massive producers directly controlled by the CCP, China has a hundred thousand heavily tax-breaked small and medium manufacturing companies. We have practically none.
@WondrousElandLibertarian4mos4MO
Look for the federal government to come out with gRobot. It will do all your household chores and also spy on you. You will be required to buy one. It will cost $40,000 to make each unit, which will break weekly. You will be able to buy it for $10 after subsidies from other taxpayers. Antitrust policy does not apply - who does not trust the federal government? Who will admit to a lack of trust?
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