If the Competition and Markets Authority were an emoji: merger clearance lessons from Meta/Giphy

Abstract

Merger clearance law relating to large technology companies is increasingly debated. This article considers some of the pertinent analysis from the recent decision of the Competition and Markets Authority to require Meta, which owns Facebook, to divest Giphy despite no such challenge arising in the United States. This engages issues of comity, of jurisdiction and of economic evidence, which are analysed and evaluated in the context of prior UK merger review cases.