CHRIS CHAPMAN: A COMMON PURPOSE

While the AI bot ChatGPT is dominating most of the headlines, the EU’s Digital Markets Act is quietly moving into its implementation phase. In its declared attempt to end the ‘unfair practices’ of the big tech platforms it adopts an ex-ante approach that Konstantinos Masselos, the chair of BEREC, describes as ‘challenging’. (If you want to understand more about chiplets and get a night-time pudding recommendation, I commend to you his Q&A, published in this issue.) For some guidance on getting through the challenge, George Houpis and Tom Ovington of Frontier Economics offer some practical advice on one key aspect of the DMA, ‘proportionality’. A wider perspective on the use of competition legislation around the world is the subject of the article by Tim Cowen and Sophia Yakhno in which they divine, with some vindication, that the piecemeal approach to regulation in this area is on the wane. Authorities and regulators are beginning to approach the issue with a common view and act with a common purpose. I like to think that the IIC has played a significant part in this, providing a neutral space for intelligent and sometimes passionate debate. If this is something you would like to contribute to, then I urge you to consider applying to be an IIC director. We rely on a board of experience, expertise and talent to help guide the organisation, and it’s a rewarding and important role. You’ll find all the details in the ad at the front of this issue and on the website. Finally, a necessary disclaimer. While I recently took up a role as a director of
ICANN, my comments here are made entirely in my IIC role.

Chris Chapman, President, IIC