Title: The future of GAFAM and competition law: two models in perspective

Authors: Habiba Bhouri

Addresses: EDPL (EA 666), University of Lyon 3 Jean Moulin, 6 Cours Albert Thomas, 69008 Lyon, France

Abstract: Online platforms play a vital role in our daily lives. They have become essential for both internet users and businesses. At present, competition authorities are very active vis-à-vis the strategies of digital giants. Competition law is flexible enough to deal with their specificities. However, the traditional tools of competition law do not make it possible to detect and effectively repress the anti-competitive practices of digital platforms and particularly GAFAM (acronym of Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon, to which Microsoft is sometimes added). The authorities are concerned with the performance of the criteria for reviewing merger operations. In this context, reform of competition law is essential to consider the new forms of domination by GAFAM. This article discusses the European initiative and future American projects.

Keywords: GAFAM; competition law; regulation; monopoly; state authority; big tech.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPL.2024.142020

International Journal of Private Law, 2024 Vol.11 No.2, pp.123 - 135

Received: 15 Sep 2022
Accepted: 07 Jul 2023
Published online: 07 Oct 2024 *

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