Tech giants including Google, Apple and Amazon will for the first time face rules governing their commercial relations with smaller businesses under a law proposed by the European Union on Thursday. The proposal would also give companies the right to collectively sue online platforms if they do not respect the new rules on non-discrimination and transparency. Music streaming services such as Spotify have been pushing for Brussels to address relations between platforms and businesses, saying the former have an incentive to disadvantage competitors’ services. CCIA, which represents Google, Amazon and eBay, said online platforms go to great lengths to maintain good relations with their business users because it was in their own interest. “There is no evidence of a systemic problem that would justify regulation through the strongest legislative instrument available to the EU.

Source: The Irish Times April 26, 2018 10:42 UTC