Facebook Gets EU Antitrust Approval In Customer Acquisition, Here's Why!

Facebook is acquiring Customers with a few exceptions. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA – On Thursday, January 27, Facebook received approval from the European Union antitrust agency to acquire a customer service startup from the US, Customer. The approval comes after the social media giant agreed to give its rivals free access to its messaging channels for 10 years.

The European Commission said the pledge addressed competition issues. Reuters reported last month that the world's largest social network would obtain conditional clearance from the European Union for the deal.

"Our decision today will ensure that innovative competitors and new entrants to the customer relationship management software market can compete effectively," EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

Customers, who sell CRM software to businesses so they can communicate with consumers via phone, email, text message, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other channels, will help Facebook improve its instant messaging app WhatsApp, whose use has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Startup purchases by big companies have sparked concern on both sides of the Atlantic, as regulators worry about so-called killer acquisitions aimed at shutting down potential rivals before they are big enough to pose a threat.