How will the Competition and Markets Authority deploy its new powers to regulate digital markets? Lords Committee to quiz the regulator
Friday 3 January 2025
The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee will next week take evidence from witnesses from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the regulator’s first Committee appearance since taking on powers under the Digital Markets, Consumer and Competition Act that came into force on 1 January.
The Act gives the CMA new powers and responsibilities to regulate competition in digital markets and make pro-competition interventions when necessary.
The evidence session will see the Committee quiz the CMA on its readiness to deploy its new powers effectively, including in relation to emerging technologies.
The evidence session will start at 2:30pm on Tuesday 7 January in committee room 3 of the House of Lords. Giving evidence to the Committee will be:
- Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive Officer, CMA
- Will Hayter, Senior Director, Digital Markets Unit, CMA
Areas the session will cover include:
- How the CMA will ensure its approach to regulation catalyses, rather than stifles, growth and innovation in the tech industry.
- Whether the CMA is prepared to implement the new digital markets regime, and how it will coordinate its work with other relevant regulators.
- Lessons the CMA has learnt from the EU’s implementation of its Digital Markets Act, and how it will avoid pitfalls such as poor compliance from tech firms and stalled product launches due to regulatory concerns.
- How the CMA will ensure its activities keep pace with emerging technologies, including AI, and how future AI-specific regulation might impact competition in the tech sector.