Big tech firms questioned by parliamentary panel over anti-competitive practices

Indian government’s parliamentary panel has questioned top technology firms such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, and Uber over anti-competitive practices. According to media reports, the parliamentary panel discussed a legal framework to ensure fair competition in the digital market.

The parliamentary panel, chaired by Union Minister Jayant Sinha, wants to set legislation that is “business-friendly and saves the interests of the consumers as well.”

According to Press Trust of India, the representatives present at the hearing were: Amazon India Country Manager, Consumer Business, Manish Tiwary; and Apple India Managing Director Strategy and Policy, Virat Bhatia. Facebook India Head of Public Policy Rajiv Aggarwal; Google India Director Government Affairs and Public Policy Archana Gulati; Netflix India Director Head of Indian Policy Ambika Khurana; Twitter India Senior Director Public Policy Samiran Gupta; Uber India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh.

Earlier, the committee met with the representatives of Paytm, MakeMyTrip, Swiggy, Zomato, Flipkart, Ola, Oyo, and the All India Gaming Association to discuss the market behaviour of technology platforms over anti-competition practices in the country.

The parliamentary panel is working on a similar competition law European Union passed last month to rein in tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.

“Times have changed, and so has the digital marketing space. The existing act, which was framed in 2002, does not cater to the current challenges. We have many reports of players using unfair practices that are harming business and putting citizens’ data at risk,” Jayant Sinha said.

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