Antitrust in the Digital Age: Does New Technology Call for New Rules?

America’s technology companies have created huge gains for consumers, developing networks and products that connect the world in ways that were inconceivable just 20 years ago. Yet this progress has not been without its critics. The dominance of large platforms has led to concerns about the harmful effects of lock-in and path dependency, with many arguing the technology sector is unique and requires new approaches to antitrust policy. In particular, it is argued that the consumer welfare standard that guides American antitrust policy is ineffective for regulating Big Tech. Yet with the lack of demonstrable consumer harm, would increased government interventions improve the market?

The Committee for Justice and Innovation Defense Foundation co-hosted a discussion of this important issue in advance of the House Judiciary Committee's hearing, "Online Platforms and Market Power, Part 6: Examining the Dominance of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google," with industry CEOs.

Featuring:

Wayne Brough

President, Innovation Defense Foundation

Thomas W. Hazlett

Hugh H. Macaulay Endowed Professor of Economics, Clemson University Director, Information Economy Project, Clemson

Scott Wallsten

President and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute

Moderator:

Ashley Baker

Director of Public Policy, The Committee for Justice