They are appealing to the authorities to reconsider the acquisition.
Following the announcement a week ago, American unions contacted the relevant authorities directly. They are dedicated to acquiring Electronic art by company Silver Lake Management, Partners by intimacy and Saudi Arabia National Investment Fund (PIF). In addition to the impact on the market and possible violations of the law, attention is now also being drawn to the security risks associated with data collection and access to artificial intelligence.
“[Je nutné] consider whether foreign investors should have access to the vast amounts of player data, including sensitive personal data, that EA collects from hundreds of millions of users,” he writes. Claude Cummings Jr.union president Communications Workers of America (CWA)in a letter addressed to the President of the American Foreign Investment Commission.
“Given that EA has access to Americans’ personal information, the proposed acquisition raises national security concerns similar to those raised by foreign ownership of the social network TikTok,” he argues.
As a result of the acquisition, EA’s assets may be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
In addition to data collection, the CWA also points to the fact that the Saudis will have access to extensive information regarding the development of artificial intelligence: “EA is investing heavily in the development of artificial intelligence, which the United States classifies as a critical technology. (…) Current US strategy is to “ensure that artificial intelligence is designed, built and developed” in the US and to “limit foreign competitors’ access to US capabilities and operations in sensitive technology areas.” (…) The proposed acquisition could result in the transfer of EA assets (…) to Saudi Arabia, raising questions about the possible further spread of the technology to foreign competitors of the United States.”
In the second letter sent to the chairman Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Cummings deals primarily with business matters. For example, it highlights previously raised concerns about layoffs due to EA’s new $20 billion debt. Recently he warns against combining the functions of some managers. Last but not least, he believes there may be an unlawful restriction on the availability of competitors’ content and services, especially due to Silver Lake Management’s sporting interests or Saudi Arabia’s esports ambitions.
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Source :Indian TV
