EU to probe Alexa, Siri and other voice assistants over data breach fears

The EU has opened similar queries in the past into sectors such as e-commerce and pharmaceuticals. 

EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager, has made the tech industry the centrepiece of her enforcement efforts, taking on Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook in recent years. Picture: EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

EU competition regulators are seeking information from 400 companies to establish if there are problems in the market for voice assistants such as Alexa and Siri and other internet-connected devices that could lead to antitrust cases.

The European Commission has opened similar inquiries in the past into sectors such as e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, financial services and energy that led to cases against companies and eventually hefty fines.