The European Union’s antitrust authority today approved Facebook’s acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp, clearing the way for the social network to complete its $19 billion cash and stock transaction.
“We have carefully reviewed this proposed acquisition and come to the conclusion that it would not hamper competition in this dynamic and growing market,” EU antitrust chief Joaquín Almunia said in a statement.
The deal, approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in April with some privacy caveats, is seen as critical to Facebook’s effort to continue to increase…