Internet Monopolies and India’s Trust Deficit: Livemint

Regulators with the Competition Commission of India are surveying e-commerce and its novel challenges to competition. “This is the closest the CCI has come to admitting that the present competition laws may not be equipped to deal with the shape-shifting, confounding challenges posed by the nature of internet platforms to competition regulation,” explains Mihir Dalal. “Globally, regulators and legislators have been waking up to the threat posed by the dominance of internet platforms to competitors.” Countries worry about the dominance of Alphabet, Facebook and Google. Even some US politicians have suggested breaking up the tech giants. India’s anti-trust laws, like those of other nations, were crafted at the start of the 20th century and relied on traditional metrics. Spokespeople contend the firms provide innovate services, making mobile devices and many services more affordable. The article includes numerous cautions and recommendations from attorneys and analysts who describe the special characteristics of internet platforms: dealing with both consumers and businesses, artificial intelligence, automation of advertising with few checks, unknown potential for corruption and collusion as well as misuse of the big data collected. – YaleGlobal