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Assessing data access issues in online platforms

Author

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  • Graef, Inge
  • Wahyuningtyas, Sih Yuliana
  • Valcke, Peggy

Abstract

Online platforms have the characteristics of a particular type of market known as ‘multi-sided’. These businesses create value by bringing advertisers and users together. Access to user data is critical to this process. On the basis of economic literature, the features of multi-sided platforms will be discussed. It will be argued that the characteristics of multi-sided platforms increase the likelihood that successful companies become dominant due to the existence of indirect network effects. In these circumstances, dominant platforms may foreclose competition by raising barriers to entry in the large collections of user data. This may give rise to access problems for competitors and new entrants that need access to data gathered by dominant platforms in order to provide competing or complementary services. A comparative legal analysis will be used to assess the standards that are applicable in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) for finding liability for refusals to deal under antitrust or competition law. The private antitrust cases that have already occurred regarding access to user data in the US show that the scope of applicability of the US essential facilities doctrine is very limited after the judgment of the Supreme Court in Trinko. Although the European Commission and the European Court of Justice seem to be willing to accept liability for a refusal to deal more easily than their US counterparts, high legal hurdles still have to be met under the essential facilities doctrine in the EU. Nevertheless, there are scenarios in which liability for refusals to give access to data will likely be accepted in the EU.

Suggested Citation

  • Graef, Inge & Wahyuningtyas, Sih Yuliana & Valcke, Peggy, 2015. "Assessing data access issues in online platforms," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 375-387.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:39:y:2015:i:5:p:375-387
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2014.12.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Florez Ramos, Esmeralda & Blind, Knut, 2020. "Data portability effects on data-driven innovation of online platforms: Analyzing Spotify," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(9).
    3. Frieden, Rob, 2017. "Grey nuances in the black and white debate over subsidized Internet access," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1017-1026.
    4. Engels, Barbara, 2016. "Data portability among online platforms," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 5(2), pages 1-17.
    5. Lei Huang & Yandong Zhao & Liang Mei & Peiyi Wu & Zhihua Zhao & Yijun Mao, 2019. "Structural Holes in the Multi-Sided Market: A Market Allocation Structure Analysis of China’s Car-Hailing Platform in the Context of Open Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Krämer, Jan & Wohlfarth, Michael, 2018. "Market power, regulatory convergence, and the role of data in digital markets," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 154-171.
    7. Bertin Martens, 2018. "The impact of data access regimes on artificial intelligence and machine learning," JRC Working Papers on Digital Economy 2018-09, Joint Research Centre.
    8. Badran, Mona Farid, 2018. "Digital Platforms in Developing Countries: "A Case-Study of Jumia Egypt"," 29th European Regional ITS Conference, Trento 2018 184929, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    9. Carlo Maria Rossotto & Prasanna Lal Das & Elena Gasol Ramos & Eva Clemente Miranda & Mona Farid Badran & Martha Martinez Licetti & Graciela Miralles Murciego, 2018. "Digital platforms: A literature review and policy implications for development," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 19(1-2), pages 93-109, March.
    10. Steffen, Nico & Wiewiorra, Lukas & Kroon, Peter, 2021. "Wettbewerb und Regulierung in der Plattform- und Datenökonomie," WIK Discussion Papers 481, WIK Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste GmbH.
    11. Arnold, René & Hildebrandt, Christian & Taş, Serpil, 2020. "European data economy: Between competition and regulation. Final report," Study Series, WIK Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste GmbH, number 251538, December.
    12. Bertschek, Irene & Briglauer, Wolfgang & Hüschelrath, Kai & Krämer, Jan & Frübing, Stefan & Kesler, Reinhold & Saam, Marianne, 2016. "Metastudie zum Fachdialog Ordnungsrahmen für die Digitale Wirtschaft: Im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 147040.
    13. Badran, Mona Farid, 2021. "Digital platforms in Africa: A case-study of Jumia Egypt's digital platform," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(3).

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