The competition watchdog of Spain, CNMC, is investigating possible anti-competitive practices in the country by Apple and Amazon related to the online sales of electronic devices, reports Reuters.
In a public statement, CNMC said that it had opened disciplinary proceedings over possible unlawful conduct by both companies that would also include possible restrictions on the Amazon website in Spain. It adds: “(Restrictions) would affect the retail sale of Apple products by third parties and the advertising of competing Apple products, leading to a reduced competition in the Internet retail market for electronic products.”
Amazon said in a statement that it was fully collaborating with the authority on this issue, while Apple in Spain didn’t make a comment on this issue. It’s not yet known how long the agency will take to probe this case by CNMC’s proceedings open a maximum period of 18 months for the investigation and resolution of the case.
The big tech firms have caught the attention of antitrust regulators in several regions in recent times. Recently, the German antitrust regulator confirmed that it is looking into Apple for competition law regulations, making it the fourth investigation into a large digital firm, after cases looking into Facebook, Amazon, and Google before.
The Competition and Markets Authority in the United Kingdom has also launched an investigation, looking into whether the Google and Apple duopoly had suppressed competition and innovation. There was also the six-bill package debated recently by the U.S. House which would help to stop the dominance of these big tech companies.
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