FTC orders Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft to provide details on prior acquisitions of small companies

The Federal Trade Commission today ordered five big tech companies to provide detailed information about their previous acquisitions of small companies, expanding the agency's investigation into possible antitrust concerns in digital markets.

Looks like Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft are in the regulatory hot seat this year.

Maybe there's antitrust action in the works, who knows.

Wow, the FTC is asking Alphabet / Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft for a whole lot of historical, non-public information that may be helpful for antitrust enforcement. https://t.co/H4QD2XeXcg

— David Ingram (@David_Ingram) February 11, 2020

Many giant companies are convinced that their dominance is due to their genius and innovation. But the truth is that so many can get big by swallowing up or shutting down potential threats. They don't need to invent killer apps if they can stay on top through killer acquisitions.

— Rohit Chopra (@chopraftc) February 11, 2020

Google didn't invent YouTube. Facebook didn't invent Instagram. And the list goes on and on.

Thats why I voted to order @Google, @Facebook, @Amazon, @Apple, & @Microsoft to hand over a decade of records about their buying binge. https://t.co/JjlJzsRUdo

— Rohit Chopra (@chopraftc) February 11, 2020

These deals are about big data. Companies across the economy are in an arms race to soak up every source of data and monetize it.

Many of these mergers fly below the radar. The @FTC orders will provide clarity on why boardrooms are shelling out billions for our personal data.

— Rohit Chopra (@chopraftc) February 11, 2020

Acquisitions offer an important window into the surveillance-based advertising model used by the likes of @Google & @Facebook.