EU regulators set to investigate Amazon's $1.7-billion iRobot deal

The European Union is set to investigate Amazon.com’s $1.7 billion purchase of iRobot Corp, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

EU regulators have sent the e-commerce giant a series of detailed questions over the proposed transaction, indicating that they are gearing up for a formal probe, the report said.

The antitrust watchdogs are likely to launch a formal probe over how iRobot’s autonomous vacuum cleaner Roomba operates, particularly its ability to take pictures as it moves around a home, the report added.

The potential move will follow the US Federal Trade Commission’s scrutiny of the deal over whether the transaction would increase Amazo’s