In his interview, he stated that China could show the world an example
of antitrust regulation of digital platforms - "If China develops
effective, innovative approaches to the antitrust regulation of digital
platforms, then the whole world will follow the developments very
closely and, possibly, learn from our Chinese colleagues," he said,
commenting on the increasing struggle of the PRC authorities against
monopolistic behaviour and unfair competition of the internet giants.
According to Alexey Ivanov, the search for optimal models for
regulating the digital economy is taking place worldwide. "We understand
how important the challenges of concentrating market power in the
digital economy are, how serious the problem of human vulnerability to
digital giants and the growing imbalance between the power of digital
platforms and human capabilities to realize their economic potential
is," he said. The expert added that the search for the optimal answer to
these existential challenges of the digital economy is one of the most
profound questions facing different countries' governments.
The Director of the BRICS Competition Center, in particular,
emphasized that the antitrust investigation by the State Administration
for Market Regulation against the Alibaba Group is essential not only
because the decision is made in relation to a digital company, but also
because it shows "a change in the course of the Chinese government in
regarding the regulation of the digital economy and the market as a
whole. "
"This change, of course, if it is sustainable, and China continues
along this path, will show the whole world a new model of organizing the
digital economy, similar to how China has already shown a special model
of accelerated industrialization of the economy," Ivanov is sure.
The expert hopes that the PRC authorities' activities will become a
source for forming a new antimonopoly policy both in the country and
internationally. "We hope that this will take place in an inclusive
format of cooperation with other antimonopoly agencies. It is difficult
to overestimate the importance of interaction between the BRICS
countries in the antimonopoly sphere," he concluded.
China has the potential to become be an example of digital platform antitrust regulation
