Competition policy in the age of ‘Big Tech’: Assessing the EU’s approach

Abstract

This perspective article analyses the EU’s approach to digital competition policy, focusing on its investigations into ‘Big Tech’ i.e., Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon, or GAFA. It assesses the changing nature of competition policy and looks at the legal and institutional context of the EU’s investigations. Analysing the impact on stakeholders and the broader policy implications, it concludes that digital regulation should not be regional and that the inclusion of technology companies coupled with the establishment of a global framework is necessary for the process of adapting competition policies for the digital age.