“TECH GIANTS OPPOSE INDIA’S DIGITAL COMPETITION BILL OVER REGULATORY CONCERNS”

Why in the news?

  • A U.S. lobby group representing Google, Amazon, and Apple opposes India’s proposed Digital Competition Bill, citing concerns about data use regulations and preferential treatment rules that could increase user costs.
  • The bill aims to impose obligations on big digital companies in India, similar to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, targeting firms with global turnovers exceeding $30 billion and at least 10 million local users.
Source:CookieYes

About Digital Markets Act (DMA):

  • Purpose: Make digital markets fairer and more contestable in the EU.
  • Objectives: Create a safer internet, empower citizens.
  • Identification of Gatekeepers: Gatekeepers are large digital platforms providing core platform services like search engines, app stores, and messenger services.
  • Gatekeepers must comply with obligations (do’s) and prohibitions (don’ts) listed in the DMA.
About Digital Competition Bill, 2024:

  • Purpose: Regulate large digital enterprises, including news aggregators, for fair competition in the digital space.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is handling the draft.
  • Similarity with EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA): Requires large tech firms to open their services and avoid favoritism towards their own services

Key Provisions:

  • Prevent big tech companies from favoring their own services or using collected data for unfair advantages
  • Set presumptive norms to curb anti-competitive practices proactively.
  • Impose heavy penalties, potentially amounting to billions of dollars, for violations.