Monopoly power

In March 2024, the EU Commission set up a series of public workshops to test Big Tech' compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Research by CEO, LobbyControl and SOMO now shows that 1 in 5 workshop participants had a direct connection with Big Tech.

Big Tech is facing increasing attempts to challenge its monopolistic power. But Big Tech itself, as well as the law firms defending these behemoths from antitrust investigations, are recruiting former regulators through the revolving door.

From workers' rights to data protection, environmental impact and abuses of dominance, the growing reach of Amazon is facing backlash. In response, the digital giant is ramping up its lobbying power in the EU and member states.

The European Commission dropped RBB Economics as its consultant this summer due to conflicting interests - but the Ombudsman had to step in for it to do so.

The European Commission has hired consultants who work for some of the biggest monopolies in the world to evaluate its merger enforcement policies. The European Commission has barely explored if there is a conflict of interest in such an appointment.

Research by CEO and LobbyControl shows that a little-known band of economic consultancies are managing to fly under the radar on behalf of their tech clients. These consultancies are effectively 'spamming the regulator' with supposedly neutral reports to influence the EU's competition policy and smooth the path for Big Tech monopolies and mergers.

As the EU discussions to set up new tech rules come to an end, new lobby documents expose the intense last minute corporate campaign to influence the secretive last phase - the trilogues.

As Big Tech’s market power has grown, so has its political clout. Just as the EU tries to rein in the most problematic aspects of Big Tech – from disinformation, targeted advertising to excessive market power – the digital giants are lobbying hard to shape new regulations.