Online platforms, competition and the need for additional regulation

The last couple of years, the call for additional regulation for online platforms and other digital developments has become bigger. The rise of online platforms, such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, has led to a situation in which these platforms play an important role in our economy and society. Due to their high profitability and scale of some of these platforms they have a strong position within society, with little competition. Although the competition laws usually ensure the level playing field is safeguarded, some believe the current competition laws are not sufficiently equipped to deal with the challenges these online platforms and, for example, algorithms bring. Therefore, additional regulation should be compiled.

On 19 December 2018 the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate started an internet consultation on competition law and online platforms. The aim of the Dutch Ministry with this consultation and the accompanying discussion paper is to shed light on the challenges online platforms bring and start the debate about the usefulness and necessity of additional regulation. Everyone, including, but not limited to, academics, competition law lawyers, platforms and business users of platforms are invited to submit their response to the discussion paper. The consultation ends on 3 February 2019.

For more information about the consultation and the discussion paper, please read our post on the Kluwer Competition Law Blog.

The discussion paper itself is only available in Dutch here. Please do not hesitate to contact the author of this blog for an informal English translation of the discussion paper.