The recent legal dispute between Facebook and the Federal cartel office shows that the market power of the major Online providers is increasing. In contrast, the Federal government wants to approach for quite some time, but the necessary amendment to the act against restraints of competition is not progressing according to the F. A. Z. – because of a Wrangling between the CDU and the SPD-led ministries.
Christian Geinitz
economic correspondent in Berlin
F. A. Z.
With the so-called GWB-digitisation of the law would exacerbate the economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU), the abuse supervision over market-dominating companies such as Facebook, Google, Amazon or Apple. The design is finished, the Cabinet can’t decide, but because the Ministry of justice provides cross.
The Federal court of justice had given on Tuesday to the assessment of the Bundeskartellamt, right that Facebook makes when you Collect the user data of his market abuse. Altmaiers design makes it easier for the cartel office in the future, to be against “company with superior cross-market importance of” working. The authority could then also collect the data easier to prevent. It would also be possible, the dominant Online companies in particular, today’s common practices from the outset to say. To prefer your own services, or to block the simultaneous use of competing platforms.
link different topics
From government circles it was said that justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) stand behind the tightening of the rules, she wanted to agree with you but only if Altmaier give up in return, his concerns against a template of your house. This is the bill for fair consumer contracts. The Ministry of economy believes that the existing rules on the protection of largely enough, and fears that prices could rise if the new law imposes on the providers, too many obligations.
The two departments do not want to comment on the linkage, to said the concerns in relation to the consumer contract act, a spokesman for the justice Ministry: “We will strengthen freedom of choice for consumers and competition. Effects on the price level can not be estimated.“
From the environment of the Ministry of Economics is to hear that they wanted to contribute to the project constructively, although the design will also be rejected by other ministries and by associations and since the end of January, there was no updated had been. While this template Cabinet was not yet ready, under the GWB-digitisation of the law in the Corona-crisis, a special deck of urgency: The pandemic is to drive forward the Online trade, which is the major Internet platforms would be even more dominant. The draft will be taken by the Ministry of justice in “hostage”, lacked the instruments to ensure fair competition.
