A blog about competition, regulation and privacy in the digital era
In an insightful article on AdExchanger, Allison Schiff notes that the ad industry is facing two interrelated "existential threats": government legislation (think of e.g., the GDPR or the CCPA) and policy changes coming from big tech (Google and Apple). But, contrary to what one might initially think, it is the platforms' changes that are the … Continue reading How tech platforms act as private regulators of privacy
Last April Damien and I published a paper titled "The Antitrust Case Against the Apple App Store," where we explored various concerns raised by Apple's App Store practices under Article 102 TFEU. We focused in particular on the obligation of apps offering "digital goods or services" (think e.g., of a game app) to use Apple's … Continue reading New paper on the App Store shows why antitrust intervention is needed
Saying that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has become quite active in the digital front would be an understatement. After delivering a pioneering report into digital platforms in 2019, it kicked off a five-year inquiry into digital platform services in 2020 and another inquiry in ad tech services (even though one might say we … Continue reading ACCC to issue report on app marketplaces in March 2021
Last Wednesday the CMA published its voluminous Final Report on its market study on online platforms and digital advertising, accompanied by 27 (!) detailed Appendices. This is a massive piece of work, and the CMA should be commended for completing it within just one year. The Report examines ad-funded online platforms with a focus on … Continue reading The CMA publishes Final Report on online platforms and digital advertising
It is official: the European Commission has opened an investigation into Apple over App Store rules (in parallel, the Commission also launched an investigation into Apple's practices over Apple Pay). The investigation follows a complaint filed by Spotify in March 2019, whereby the music streaming service took issue with Apple's 30% commission levied on in-app … Continue reading EU probes Apple over App Store rules
On 9 April 2020 the Autorité published its decision no. 20-MC-01 (currently available only in French, but there is a press release in English), on the requests for interim measures submitted by various unions of press publishers in France and Agence France-Presse (the "publishers"). The Autorité ordered Google (as a provisional measure and pending its … Continue reading The Autorité de la concurrence orders interim measures against Google in neighbouring rights case
In April 2020 Josh Frydenberg, Treasurer of Australia, ordered the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ("ACCC") to create a mandatory code of conduct governing the relationships between digital platforms and media businesses. The ACCC had been working on a voluntary code of conduct as a follow up to its Final Report on its Digital Platforms … Continue reading ACCC to create mandatory code of conduct for Google, Facebook
The Apple App Store has given rise to a thriving marketplace that connects app developers and iOS users. However, Apple has recently come under increased antitrust scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic over concerns that it uses its role as operator of the App Store to give its own apps an anticompetitive advantage. At … Continue reading The antitrust case against the Apple App Store
