Monopoly of tech giants like Google will end: India, America and EU are making laws; misuse of power will stop.
After years of abusing their monopoly power, the Big Tech giants are slowly falling into a trap of their own making. Governments around the world – including India, the US, countries in the European Union, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia among others – are taking action against the tech giants to restore democracy in the internet ecosystem. Questioning their monopolistic practices.
Monopolistic practices such as denial of fair payment for news, forming cartels to eliminate competitors, opaque and arbitrary business practices, misuse of app and payment marketplaces, misuse of consumer data. The tendency to dominate the entire internet space has been the dark legacy of a handful of tech companies that have come under scrutiny today.
Google surrounded in antitrust law suit, financial penalty
Google, which has been at the forefront of these works, is now surrounded by several antitrust lawsuits and financial penalties. Recently in India, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed two fines totaling Rs 2,274 crore on the Alphabet-owned company for allegedly abusing its position in the Android OS and Android mobile app store space. CCI is probing Google in the third case.
CCI is investigating Google
The CCI is also probing Google on the basis of complaints lodged by the Indian News Paper Association (INA), News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) and Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) in the recent past. Their complaints are about not sharing revenue with India’s domestic news media companies despite their published content being displayed on Google News Feed.
Incorrect revenue sharing with publishers
A DNPA source said, “Google has never shared the right revenue with leading news organizations of the country for their published news. The day is not far when the laws of the country will not allow Big Tech players to abuse their monopoly as they have done in the past. DNPA is the rights group for the digital arm of Indian media houses.
India is making new law
Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar says that India’s decision to stop such practices of Big Tech giants will require framing of laws and regulations. Under the leadership of Chandrasekhar, the ministry is studying IT regulations of at least 20 countries to create a bulletproof digital landscape.
It will protect the rights of India’s netizens, digital news media and other stakeholders. It is being said that the IT Act 2000 will soon be replaced by the Digital India Act. Its draft framework could be rolled out in 2023.
Preparation to bring two bills in America
Preparations are underway to bring two bills like ‘The American Innovation and Choice Online Act’ and ‘Open App Markets Act’ in America. These bills are being brought in an attempt to stop the tech giants from misusing their powers.
If passed, these bills would become the strongest legislation ever targeting Big Tech’s dominance in the US. Earlier in August, lawmakers introduced a landmark bill that enables news media organizations to negotiate revenue sharing models with tech giants such as Google and Facebook.
Team of 40 experts on mission in EU
The European Union has also announced that it is on a mission to form a crack team of 40 experts to help enforce stronger Digital Market Act (DMA) rules to prevent Big Tech firms from abusing their powers.
Other tech giants including Alphabet, Meta
The list of tech giants includes Alphabet (owner of Google, YouTube, Android OS, etc.), Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, etc.), Apple (owner of iPhone, Mac, App Store, etc.), Amazon (a shopping platform, owner of AWS, Twitch, Prime, etc.), Microsoft (owner of Windows, Office, Skype, Xbox, etc.), Twitter, and a few others.
