Antitrust and Platforms: Regulators Tighten Competition Rules
Introduction
Regulators are tightening oversight of large digital platforms, focusing on market power, self-preferencing, and data advantages. New rules and enforcement actions aim to preserve competition and consumer choice.
For businesses that depend on platform access, the outcome could reshape fees, rankings, and access to data.
Key Points
- Market power is the central test. Authorities are targeting dominance across search, app stores, and marketplaces.
- Self-preferencing draws scrutiny. Preferential ranking or bundling is under review.
- Data control is a leverage point. Access to user and merchant data is a competitive advantage.
- Remedies may be structural or behavioral. Options range from fines to mandated interoperability.
- Global coordination is increasing. Cases often span multiple jurisdictions.
How To
1) Monitor enforcement calendars
Maintain a calendar of investigations, court cases, and regulatory milestones across jurisdictions to anticipate policy shifts. This helps time compliance work and strategic pivots.
2) Stress-test platform dependence
Quantify dependency on dominant platforms by mapping revenue, traffic, and customer acquisition sources. Build contingency plans for sudden ranking or policy changes.
3) Diversify acquisition channels
Diversify demand through direct channels, partnerships, and non-platform marketing to reduce exposure. Prioritize owned channels where possible to regain control of customer relationships.
4) Prepare for compliance requirements
Prepare for obligations like interoperability, data access, and self-preferencing restrictions by reviewing product design and contracts. Early alignment reduces the cost of last-minute compliance fixes.
5) Engage in policy consultations
Engage in consultations and industry working groups to understand likely enforcement outcomes. Document competition risks internally so leadership can act before enforcement lands.
Conclusion
Antitrust enforcement against platforms is entering a more interventionist phase. Companies that understand the regulatory direction and reduce dependency on single channels will be best positioned for the transition.