Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was anything but elated on hearing the news of Amazon’s proposed purchase of MGM. She was so out of sorts that she called on the Justice Department to investigate the deal before it’s finally put to bed.
“This is a major acquisition that has the potential to impact millions of consumers,” Klobuchar said in a statement on Wednesday. “The Department of Justice must conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that this deal won’t risk harming competition.”
While the Amazon/MGM deal seems good in theory because of all the added content that Amazon Prime Video members will now have access to, Klobuchar says the move will only give the company more power in another consumer category.
Amazon reportedly has its eye on yet another prize that’s certain to get Klobuchar’s attention -- opening up brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
Lawmakers on both sides are wary of Amazon’s deal
Klobuchar is certainly in the right place to raise such a concern. She chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights -- the committee that has a responsibility to keep an eye on competition in digital markets.
Just ask Google or Apple how much power she wields. Under her supervision, the committee forced the two tech giants to appear before them for a hearing over app store antitrust practices. And while the Justice Department is pretty strong on its own, she’s proven that she’s not afraid to press the agency about its handling of Big Tech.
Klobuchar’s anxiety over Amazon’s newest in-road isn’t limited to Democrats. Two key Republicans -- Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) -- also made it known that they feel Amazon should not be permitted to purchase MGM.
“This sale should not go through. Amazon is already a monopoly platform that owns e-commerce, shipping, groceries & the cloud. They shouldn’t be permitted to buy anything else. Period,” Hawley said in a tweet Wednesday. Buck tweeted back his support with a simple “Agreed.”