Facebook’s $400m deal to buy Giphy being investigated by UK watchdog

An investigation is to get underway into whether Facebook’s planned acquisition of Giphy would create an uncompetitive market in the social media sector. Facebook announced plans acquire the GIF-sharing platform last month  in a deal reported to be worth $400m.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a statement today (12 June) saying that any actions related to the acquisition will not be allowed unless Facebook has consent from the CMA. Such actions include how the two will integrate their products or merge teams.
“The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services,” it said .
Comments from third parties in relation to the investigation are now open until 3 July 2020. A spokesperson for Facebook said that the company is “prepared to show regulators that this acquisition is positive for consumers, developers and content creators alike”.
Promises from Instagram
With an estimated 700m viewers of Giphy content each day , Facebook’s acquisition was designed to give the social media company leverage as it competes with new rivals such as TikTok by building the GIF platform into Instagram.
However, other platforms such as Twitter and Slack have integrated Giphy support, allowing a user to search and share a GIF. This raised concerns that Facebook and Instagram would restrict third parties from using Giphy.
However, Instagram’s vice-president of product, Vishal Shah, issued a statement  to say that developers will still be able to integrate Giphy into their platforms. He added that 50pc of Giphy’s traffic currently comes through Facebook’s products.
“Giphy will continue to operate its library (including its global content collection), and we’re looking forward to investing further in its technology and relationships with content and API partners,” Shah said last month.
“People will still be able to upload GIFs; developers and API partners will continue to have the same access to Giphy’s APIs; and Giphy’s creative community will still be able to create great content.”
Giphy app on a smartphone . Image: opturadesign /Depositphotos
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