Committees

Competition law and tech experts discuss online regulation

26 June 2018

The Communications Committee continues hearing evidence for its inquiry "The Internet: to regulate or not to regulate?"

Background

In the first session, the Committee questions competition law experts. They give their views on the challenges of applying competition and data protection laws to the online marketplace.

In the second session, the Committee questions tech experts from the University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh. They are asked to discuss the history of the internet, the advantages and disadvantages of the use of algorithms online, the likely principles of ethical design and how these standards could be harmonised internationally.

Witnesses

Tuesday 26 June, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster

At 3.30pm

  • Professor Pinar Akman, Professor of Competition Law, University of Leeds
  • Dr Orla Lynskey, Assistant Professor of Law, LSE Law
  • Dr Nicolo Zingales, Lecturer in Competition and Information Law, University of Sussex

At 4.30pm

  • Dr Ewa Luger, Chancellor's Fellow, Digital Arts and Humanities, University of Edinburgh
  • Professor John Naughton, Senior Research Fellow, CRASSH, University of Cambridge

Possible lines of questioning

Topics that are likely to be covered during the first evidence session include:

  • The scale and market position of dominant digital platforms
  • The current system by which competition regulators assess abuse of market dominance
  • Strengths and weaknesses of the UK laws on mergers and acquisitions in terms of the online economy
  • Users' rights
  • The impact of the General Data Protection Regulation on competition.

Topics that are likely to be covered in the second evidence session include:

  • The extent to which platforms have become the dominant infrastructural and economic model for the internet
  • The impact of the design of internet services or interfaces
  • The biggest changes in the way we use and interact with internet services
  • 'Ethical by design' standards
  • Policies regarding anonymity, privacy and age verification

Further information

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