Italy has attached stringent conditions on personal data protection to its approval of JD.com’s acquisition of German electronics retailer Ceconomy’s Italian operations, according to a government ruling seen by Reuters.
The approval was issued under Italy’s “golden power” rules, which allow the state to intervene in transactions involving assets considered strategically sensitive.
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The government approved the $2.5bn transaction in November 2025, subject to specific requirements.
The deal includes the transfer of 144 retail outlets in Italy, most operating under the MediaWorld brand.
Ceconomy’s Mediamarket, MediaMarktSaturn Platform Services Italia and Imtron Italia are also covered by the transaction.
The Italian companies involved must ensure that customer data remain separate from JD.com and its subsidiaries.
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By GlobalDataPersonal data ust not be shared on a large scale with entities outside the European Union (EU), unless in full compliance with the conditions laid down by the government.
The decision was supported by the scale of data held by Ceconomy in Italy, with records relating to 21.6 million customers.
JD.com has committed to safeguarding Italian consumers’ personal information and storing it solely in European data facilities.
Austria has also sought clarification from the Italian government on the implications of the deal.
The Italian measures follow growing concern in several European capitals about the redirection of lower-priced Chinese goods to EU markets, as companies respond to shifts in global trade linked to tariff policies adopted by President Donald Trump.
