Germany: Announced Sector Inquiry into Messenger Services

On 12 November 2020, the German Competition Authority (Bundeskartellamt) launched an inquiry into messenger services. The investigation aims to address concerns about data protection and potential violations of consumer rights in the industry. It will also examine the lack of interoperability between messenger services and its impact on privacy-friendly options. The Bundeskartellamt will engage with industry representatives and experts to gather information, and the findings will be presented in a public report. This is the fourth consumer protection sector inquiry conducted by the Bundeskartellamt.