The Federal Trade Commission made headlines today, suing to block Microsoft’s $69 billion dollar deal for Activision, which makes some of the most popular videogames in the world. I’m a big fan of federal regulators paying closer attention to tech companies’ hidden power, especially how they use customer data. But the FTC should just let this one go. Technology is upending the gaming world in so many ways, and I really don’t think this particular deal is going to hurt consumers.
In another FTC move that is a bit of a head-scratcher, today it faced off with Meta Platforms in court over the agency’s effort to block Meta from acquiring a virtual reality fitness app made by Within. The app, Supernatural, offers sessions in boxing, stretching and an aerobic routine called Flow. Mark Zuckerberg himself is expected to take the stand.
