May 27, 2021

European Commission Objection to App Store Rules Lack Empirical Support

Paula Pernas Castrillo

The European Commission recently issued a formal Statement of Objections (SO) in which it charges Apple with antitrust breach. In a nutshell, the commission argues that Apple prevents app developers—in this case,…

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

April 9, 2021

Irish Decision Will Raise Stakes to Resolve Transatlantic Data Trade

Kristian Stout

We can expect a decision very soon from the High Court of Ireland on last summer’s Irish Data Protection Commission (“IDPC”) decision that placed serious impediments in the way of…

Data Security & Privacy

March 26, 2021

The FTC Did Not ‘Fumble the Future’ in Its Google Search Investigation

Geoffrey A. Manne & Dirk Auer

In the final analysis, what the revelations do not show is that the FTC’s market for ideas failed consumers a decade ago when it declined to bring an antitrust suit against Google.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

February 3, 2021

Chairman Pai Symposium: Wrap-Up and Thoughts for the Future FCC

Kristian Stout

The next chair has an awfully big pair of shoes (or one oversized coffee mug) to fill. Chairman Pai established an important legacy of transparency and process improvement, as well as commitment to careful, economic analysis in the business of the agency.

Telecommunications

January 26, 2021

Ajit Pai Brought the FCC’s Media Ownership Rules into the Modern Age

Geoffrey A. Manne

Pai’s tenure at the FCC was marked by an abiding appreciation for the importance of competition, both as a guiding principle for new regulations and as a touchstone to determine when to challenge existing ones. Perhaps his greatest contribution to bringing competition to the forefront of the FCC’s mandate came in his work on media modernization.

Telecommunications

January 21, 2021

A Reflection on Commissioner Pai, Chairman Pai, and Public Service

Joshua Wright

Ajit Pai has been, in my view, the most successful, impactful minority commissioner in the history of the modern regulatory state. And it is that success that has led him to become the most successful and impactful chairman, too.

Telecommunications

January 19, 2021

Pai’s Legacy of Progress in Closing the Rural Digital Divide

Gus Hurwitz

The technical and business challenges of connecting rural America are different. Rural America needs different things out of its infrastructure than urban America. And the attitudes of both users and those providing service are different here than they are in urban America. Aji Pai gets this.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

December 17, 2020

The Case Against Google Advertising: What’s the Relevant Market and How Many Are There?

Eric Fruits

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s complaint against Google’s advertising business, joined by the attorneys general of nine other states, continues a long tradition of narrowing market definition to shoehorn market dominance where it may not exist.

Antitrust & Consumer Protection

December 16, 2020

Building the Digital Future: Can the EU Foster a Dynamic and Crime-Free Internet?

Geoffrey A. Manne & Dirk Auer

The European Commission has unveiled draft legislation that would overhaul the rules governing the online lives of its citizens. The draft rules are something of a mixed bag.

Innovation & The New Economy