How the DMA Transforms Digital Markets and Boosts Innovation

Openness and contestability of digital markets are not a given. Digital markets’ characteristics may allow a few very large players to become gatekeepers or undermine fairness of the commercial relationship with their business partners and consumers. The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) holds the promise to transform the digital ecosystem and open up many opportunities for innovation by smaller companies and new market entrants – by imposing obligations on these gatekeepers and prohibiting certain unfair practices.

Designated gatekeepers (Amazon, Apple, Bytedance, Google, Meta, and Microsoft) will have to comply with the DMA by March 7. The DMA obliges these gatekeepers, amongst other things, to enable business users to conclude contracts with their customers outside the gatekeepers’ platform, and third parties to inter-operate with the gatekeepers’ services. The DMA further requires unbundling (e.g. of payment systems), enables customer switching, and prohibits self-preferencing. In this way, the DMA reshapes the digital landscape into a more open and interoperable ecosystem, breaking down “walled gardens”.

During this Brussels to the Bay event, organized at the eve of the DMA’s full entry into force, we will discuss the DMA’s potential to promote innovation and to strengthen the position of consumers. What are the obligations designated gatekeepers have to comply with? How can companies relying on gatekeepers benefit from the DMA? What are potential opportunities for innovation unlocked by the DMA? We will also look at the DMA through a transatlantic perspective. How could these benefits become available to users? Can we expect any regulatory action or change in the US on this front in the near future?

When: Tuesday, March 5th, 9:00 am (PST)

Where: EU Office in San Francisco - 1 Post Street, suite 2300

AGENDA

• 8:30 - 9.00 | Walk-in & Breakfast
• 9:00 – 9:05 | Introductory remarks by Gerard de Graaf (Senior EU Envoy for Digital to the U.S. & Head of the EU Office in San Francisco
• 9:05 - 9:20 | An overview of the DMA: online presentation by Rita Wezenbeek (Director, Platforms Policy and Enforcement, DG CNECT, European Commission)
• 9:20 – 10:30 | Panel discussion with Paula L. Blizzard (Senior Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Section, California Department of Justice), Luther Lowe (Head of Public Policy, Y Combinator), moderated by Chris Riley (Chris Riley, Executive Director, Data Trasfer Initiative)

MEET OUT SPEAKERS

Rita Wezenbeek, Director, Platforms Policy and Enforcement, DG CNECT, European Commission

Paula L. Blizzard, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Section, California Department of Justice

Luther Lowe, Head of Public Policy, Y Combinator

Luther Lowe is currently the Head of Public Policy at Y Combinator, where he fights for little tech in the public policy arena. Prior to his time at Y Combinator, he was the Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Yelp. Lowe’s career has been marked by his advocacy for competition policy, open data, and consumer free speech. Lowe’s work has earned him recognition, including being named to Vanity Fair’s ‘New Establishment’ list and being listed among Washington DC’s 500 most influential people. Lowe’s background also includes serving as an aide to retired NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark and working on various Democratic campaigns.

Moderator:

Chris Riley, Executive Director, Data Trasfer Initiative

Chris Riley is the executive director of the nonprofit Data Transfer Initiative and a distinguished research fellow at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he was senior resident fellow for internet governance at the think tank R Street Institute, director of policy at the Mozilla Corporation, and a senior internet freedom program manager at the U.S. Department of State, among other positions. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Two types of tickets are available: in-person participation and online participation. For online attendees, Zoom link will be sent by email the day before the event.

For question or inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].

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Host or Publisher European Union Delegation, San Francisco Office