Antitrust in the Digital Age: Tackling Big Tech's Dominance in India
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Economy (Competition Commission of India - CCI, Antitrust laws, Startups, Digital Economy), Governance.
Mains:
GS Paper 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies (CCI).
GS Paper 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment; Effects of liberalization on the economy.
Key Highlights from the News
The article argues that the monopolistic power of global tech giants like Google in India's digital economy hinders the growth of Indian start-ups.
These tech giants act as "gatekeepers" controlling market access.
Google's dominance in the Android operating system (95% market share) leads to discriminatory practices against Indian start-ups.
Examples include high commissions in the Play Store, the Real Money Gaming (RMG) pilot program that only grants access to certain games (Daily Fantasy Sports, Rummy), and discriminatory advertising policies.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated an investigation into a complaint filed by an Indian gaming company on this issue.
The article states that monopolization reduces consumer choice, affects the quality of services, and hinders the country's goal of 'Viksit Bharat'.
Democratizing opportunities for distribution and monetization is essential for the growth of Indian start-ups.
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