// Blog
EU Merger Guidelines: A step towards more effective merger control
Mergers are a key element of strategies to increase market power and/or leverage it into adjacent markets. The European Commission is reviewing its Merger Guidelines which...
Break up Google: the decisive phase begins
The EU Commission is demanding that Google take action against its conflicts of interest. A break up remains on the table. The next few months will decide whether the EU will finally take action in the tense political climate.
Tech regulation on the brink
The EU must limit the power of tech companies. It must not give in to Trump’s attacks on the EU’s digital laws. This is what we and over 50 alliance partners are calling for in a letter to von der Leyen. It is a problematic sign that the EU Commission is postponing a decision because of Google’s monopoly power.
Large majority in favour of a strict stance against big tech
A large majority of the French, German and Spanish public are in favour of the EU taking a tough stance on Big Tech, despite the risks to relations with the Trump administration. There is also support for breaking up Google.
From Big Oil to Big Tech: the expansion of corporate tech power into the energy sector
Guest article by Dr. Silvia Weko.
Amazon has grown rapidly in recent decades. The original online bookseller has expanded its business to include logistics, AI, robotics and cloud services. Now Amazon is also making inroads into the energy sector. What does this mean for the energy transition and the power of big tech companies?
Digital tax – but done right
On May 29, the Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, proposed a 10% advertising levy based on the Austrian model. We welcome this proposal. After all, digital companies continue to pay significantly lower taxes than other companies (9.5% instead of 23.3% according to a recent CEPS report).
Break up Google
No tech company should have the kind of monopoly power that Google has in search engines or online advertising. The EU Commission should force Google to sell parts of its group in order to curb its monopoly power. Sign now!
Monopoly power, AI and ideology at #rp25
Rebalance Now will be represented four times at re:publica from May 26 to 28. We are looking forward to the exchange on site! We will be covering various topics relating to digital monopolies, AI and competition.
Interoperability and openness between different governance models: Mastodon/Threads and Wikipedia/Google
What does it actually take for alternatives to big tech offerings to prevail – and remain different? Aline Blankertz and Svea Windwehr explored this question in the TechREG Chronicle of Competition Policy International.
“Much more could be done with competition law” – Digital expert Aline Blankertz on the fight against digital monopolies
Aline Blankertz in a KNA interview about digital monopolies and the current antitrust proceedings against Google & Co., courtesy of the KNA media service
Break up once, twice or even three times!
Progress is being made in several proceedings in the USA that could lead to a break-up of big tech companies. In addition to a possible sale of Google’s powerful advertising platforms, a sale of the Chrome browser is also on the table in the Google search proceedings. And proceedings are also underway regarding Meta, which could end in the sale of Instagram and WhatsApp. Where do the proceedings stand, what could happen next and what does this mean for digital markets?
Most company takeovers by Big Tech remain unchecked
The big tech companies are expanding their dominance inconspicuously through mergers and acquisitions. Most of these deals escape the scrutiny of the competition authorities, according to an analysis by the Dutch organization SOMO. This is a problem for innovation, diversity and fair competition. We need better merger control.
