In particular PI was concerned that, through the acquisition of Giphy, Facebook would potentially be able to:
- Obtain users’ personal data processed via Giphy and potentially combine it with the vast amount of data it already process to further strengthen its capacity to profile users, predict and influence their behaviours;
- By modifying Giphy’s API, increase the categories of personal data collected from users;
- Impose to clients (including Facebook’s competitors in the social media and messaging market) conditions for the use of Giphy, potentially preventing clients from protecting their users’ personal data;
- Increase its capacity to deliver targeted ads both to Giphy’s users and internet users even outside Facebook’s platform and services (and including within the ecosystems of its competitors) through increase tracking capabilities.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is also reviewing the Facebook/Giphy merger and PI has made a submission to their inquiry as well.
