ShutterstockCompanies like Amazon, Google, Airbnb and Uber have so far successfully neutralized the antitrust arsenal of the United States and the European Union. This public adoration, with only a hint of ambivalence, reflects the impotence of public authorities to translate their protests into decisive actions. Tepid Public MeasuresUnable to blame them for creating monopolies, as they merely lucratively oversee competitive markets, public authorities criticize these platforms for relatively minor practices. The loop is closed, in a snowball effect that allows a private player like Uber to claim near-monopoly control over the management of a public interest market. Nearly the entire adult population in the Western bloc uses services from Google, Amazon, Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Spotify, and other digital platforms.

Source: Forbes January 12, 2024 23:51 UTC