IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/telpol/v49y2025i5s0308596125000503.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Promoting free flows via competition law: An AI industry blueprint for Southeast Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Osorio, Chad Patrick
  • Gojo Cruz, Jamlech Iram

Abstract

Concerns about multinational technology companies and their antitrust activities are increasing, particularly in the US and the European Union. However, this issue has not been given much attention in the context of ASEAN, despite being the fifth largest economy in the world. In this article, we discuss how a common competition law framework for ASEAN presents multiple benefits for the AI industry, spanning regulatory, economic, and innovation-related aspects. We argue that harmonizing competition laws across the region through a unified framework—promoting the free flow of data, compute, and AI models—would streamline regulatory compliance for AI firms and create a level playing field, preventing monopolistic practices and enhancing consumer protection. To support this, we propose a set of technical rules for the AI industry to be integrated in the common legal framework, which can stimulate not only regional AI governance, but drive responsible AI development and regional economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Osorio, Chad Patrick & Gojo Cruz, Jamlech Iram, 2025. "Promoting free flows via competition law: An AI industry blueprint for Southeast Asia," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(5).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:49:y:2025:i:5:s0308596125000503
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102953
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596125000503
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102953?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Burton ONG, 2015. "Competition Law and Policy in Singapore," Working Papers DP-2015-53, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    2. Hanspach, Philip & Sapi, Geza & Wieting, Marcel, 2024. "Algorithms in the marketplace: An empirical analysis of automated pricing in e-commerce," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    3. Wisuttisak, Pornchai & Kim, Chul Ju & Rahim, Mia Mahmudur, 2021. "PPPs and challenges for competition law and policy in ASEAN," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 291-306.
    4. Rosa-Branca Esteves & Francisco Carballo-Cruz, 2023. "Can data openness unlock competition when an incumbent has exclusive data access for personalized pricing?," NIPE Working Papers 06/2023, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    5. Varian, Hal R., 2021. "Seven deadly sins of tech?," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    6. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    7. Meena, Abhilasha & Dhir, Sanjay & Sushil, Sushil, 2024. "Coopetition, strategy, and business performance in the era of digital transformation using a multi-method approach: Some research implications for strategy and operations management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    8. Alex Edmans & Mirko Heinle & Chong Huang, 2013. "The Real Costs of Disclosure," NBER Working Papers 19420, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Ewens, Michael & Xiao, Kairong & Xu, Ting, 2024. "Regulatory costs of being public: Evidence from bunching estimation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    10. Hao, Jinji, 2024. "Disclosure regulation, cost of capital, and firm values," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1).
    11. Cassey Lee, 2022. "Competition Policy in the Age of Algorithms: Challenges for Indonesia," Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(3), pages 297-312, September.
    12. Ikumo Isono & Hilmy Prilliadi, 2023. "Accelerating Artificial Intelligence Discussions in ASEAN: Addressing Disparities, Challenges, and Regional Policy Imperatives," Working Papers DP-2023-16, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    13. Calvano, Emilio & Polo, Michele, 2021. "Market power, competition and innovation in digital markets: A survey," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    14. Esteves, Rosa-Branca & Carballo-Cruz, Francisco, 2023. "Can data openness unlock competition when an incumbent has exclusive data access for personalized pricing?," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alexandre Chirat, 2022. "Consumer sovereignty in the digital society," EconomiX Working Papers 2022-25, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    2. Noriaki Matsushima & Mark J. Tremblay, 2024. "Network compatibility and incumbent pricing regimes," ISER Discussion Paper 1265, Institute of Social and Economic Research, The University of Osaka.
    3. Shuaicheng Liu, 2024. "Privacy regulation in asymmetric environments," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 157-173, December.
    4. Mohammed T. Abusharbeh, 2024. "Technology-Profitability Paradox in Banking Sector: Evidence from Palestine," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 14855-14873, September.
    5. Irene Bertschek & Joern Block & Alexander S. Kritikos & Caroline Stiel, 2024. "German financial state aid during Covid-19 pandemic: Higher impact among digitalized self-employed," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1-2), pages 76-97, January.
    6. Goldstein, Itay & Yang, Liyan, 2019. "Good disclosure, bad disclosure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(1), pages 118-138.
    7. Dominik M. Wielgos & Christian Homburg & Christina Kuehnl, 2021. "Digital business capability: its impact on firm and customer performance," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 762-789, July.
    8. Rizvi, Syed Kumail Abbas & Rahat, Birjees & Naqvi, Bushra & Umar, Muhammad, 2024. "Revolutionizing finance: The synergy of fintech, digital adoption, and innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    9. Kashyap, Abhishek & Shukla, Om Ji & Kumar, Rupesh & Alam, Md Mahmudul & Oberoi, Sarbjit Singh, 2025. "Online retailing and the metaverse: Addressing stakeholder impediments in e-commerce," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    10. Kun Wang & Bing Chen & Yuhong Li, 2024. "Technological, process or managerial innovation? How does digital transformation affect green innovation in industrial enterprises?," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 1-32, February.
    11. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    12. Ponzoa, José M. & Gómez, Andrés & Mas, José M., 2023. "EU27 and USA institutions in the digital ecosystem: Proposal for a digital presence measurement index," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    13. Antonio Farías & Christian A. Cancino, 2021. "Digital Transformation in the Chilean Lodging Sector: Opportunities for Sustainable Businesses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    14. Sachin Modgil & Rohit Kumar Singh & Soni Agrawal, 2025. "Developing human capabilities for supply chains: an industry 5.0 perspective," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 348(3), pages 2075-2105, May.
    15. Weilong Wang & Deheng Xiao, 2025. "Marketization of Data Elements and Enterprise Green Governance Performance: A Quasi‐Natural Experiment Based on Data Trading Platforms," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(3), pages 1686-1700, April.
    16. Suarsana, Laura & Schneider, Tina & Warsewa, Günter, 2023. "Do regional innovation strategies meet societal challenges? A comparative analysis across regions in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and Finland," Schriftenreihe Institut Arbeit und Wirtschaft 40/2023, Institut Arbeit und Wirtschaft (IAW), Universität Bremen und Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen.
    17. Deist, Maximilian K. & McDowell, William C. & Bouncken, Ricarda B., 2023. "Digital units and digital innovation: Balancing fluidity and stability for the Creation, Conversion, and Dissemination of sticky knowledge," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    18. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    19. Del Vecchio, Pasquale & Secundo, Giustina & Garzoni, Antonello, 2023. "Phygital technologies and environments for breakthrough innovation in customers' and citizens' journey. A critical literature review and future agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    20. Li, Fei & Zhang, Nana, 2025. "Digital transformation, innovation investment and quality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:49:y:2025:i:5:s0308596125000503. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30471/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.