COSMONAUT

S E R I E S

Data-Driven Mergers

Chris Gannon

Privacy & Antitrust

The current approach to data-driven mergers largely ignores the potentially detrimental effects of concentration of personal data on consumers. However, there must be a route that enables the integration of privacy concerns into competition law analysis to ensure that privacy, considered as a fundamental aspect of consumer welfare, is not degraded by the merger.

Ben Chamberlain

Data accumulation as barrier to entry?

A dynamic digital environment requires antitrust authorities to meticulously and creatively assess a broad range of determinants in deciding on the competitive effect of some merger. Data accumulation in that regard can be taken as a red flag, but not as solid proof of detrimental anti-competitive effect.


Jignesh Gajjar

Acquisition on condition

By the end of 2020, the European Commission approves Google's acquisition of Fitbit on conditions. Google had to commit to not using location, health, and well-being data from Fitbit users for 10 years to target ads. The company also assured that the deal will not affect Fitbit's competitors using Android and has indicated that it will not interfere with the operation of Fitbit devices on other operating systems. The European regulator also demanded that users have the option to disable data sharing with other Google services.

Johnkutty KM

Our Series

One Way Ticket to Luxembourg - Facebook v. Bundeskartellamt at the ECJ

By Mario Tavares Moyrón & Petar Pešić • April 14, 2021
A landmark competition-privacy case has been sent to the European Court of Justice. The Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf has decided that the GDPR-related concerns on the much-expected Bundeskartellamt v. Facebook dominance dispute shall be interpreted by the ECJ before a final ruling is set in German Courts.

WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy in the Light of the Bundeskartellamt’s Facebook Decision and the Turkish experience

By Gözde Diktas • April 14, 2021
WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook in February 2014. It was unforeseen the massive relevance that both companies' combined data would eventually have for Facebook’s business model. We currently see a clearer perspective of the above in light of WhatsApp’s new privacy policy.

(Sensitive) Data Mergers and Consumer Welfare

By Juliana Novaes • April 14, 2021
The acquisition of Fitbit by Google is an emblematic case, as it represents an attempt by Google to expand their participation in the wearables and the health market. This text aims to provide a short overview of the main antitrust and privacy discussions surrounding the case, including the particularities involving sensitive data and the impacts of the merge when it comes to consumer welfare.

Privacy as an Element of Product Quality in the Assessment of Data-Driven Mergers

By Nathalie Alquati Bonisoli • April 14, 2021
The current approach to data-driven mergers largely ignores the potentially detrimental effects of concentration of personal data on consumers. However, there must be a route that enables the integration of privacy concerns into competition law analysis to ensure that privacy, considered as a fundamental aspect of consumer welfare, is not degraded by the merger.

Propensity of Data Accumulation to Raise ‘Barriers to Entry’

By Miljana Todorovic • April 11, 2021
A dynamic digital environment requires antitrust authorities to meticulously and creatively assess a broad range of determinants in deciding on the competitive effect of some merger. Data accumulation in that regard can be taken as a red flag, but not as solid proof of detrimental anti-competitive effect.

Google-Fitbit Takeover: Good Night Sleep or Insomnia?

By Vicky Tatsi • October 10, 2020
Last year, Google announced its decision about Fitbit’s acquisition. However, the European Commission will now carry out an in-depth investigation into the effects of the transaction as it is concerned that Google, that holds a dominant position in the online advertising markets, will gain a huge “data advantage” as a result of this acquisition.

Read More

TikTok-ing on the National Security Defence

By Raushan Tara Jaswal • September 21, 2022
Time is running out on the National Security defence adopted by the Government of India for the prolonged ban on Chinese based Mobile Applications.

Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Outer Space

By Linda Jaeck • January 16, 2022
How AI is enabling new frontiers in Mars exploration.

Showdown Down Under?

By Marco Schmidt • August 9, 2021
Regulation is gaining more traction all over the place but it is uncertain if the Australian News Media Bargain Code will become a role model for legislation in other places. There are several weaknesses to the Code and after all, it is not clear if paying publishers for their content will really alter the high levels of market concentration.

Myanmar's Keyboard Warriors

By Theint Theint Thu • August 9, 2021
The perseverance of Myanmar’s youth to fight for freedom is proving to be the key to the country’s democratic future.

Emojis and Digital Communication

By Suzanne Flynn • August 9, 2021
Digital communication has changed rapidly since the onset of the digital age but emojis have only gone from strength to strength since their inception in the late 1990s. This article will cover the impact emojis have had on language and culture. It will conclude with a comparison of hieroglyphics and emojis and what this development tells us about in culture and language in the digital age.

Protecting democratic content and the UK Online Safety Bill

By Lucas Pinho Martins Nacif • June 6, 2021
The idea behind protecting ‘democratic content’ within social media providers is a thought-provoking one and shows how the UK is committed to protecting diversity of political opinion within democratic debate. It may be proven unworkable, though.

Watch Our Episodes