Regulating Digital Platforms

Overall structure of each week of the online training

• Friday before class: Background materials for the following week are uploaded to the e-learning platform.
• Monday – Tuesday: Individual learning activities.
• Wednesday: The live class takes place from 13:00 to 14:30 (CEST) via Zoom. After the live class, a hands-on session from 15:00 to 16:30 is dedicated to a group discussion, facilitated by the lecturer. As an exception, the class on week 3 will be replaced by free access to the Florence Digitalisation Summer Conference on ‘The disruptive market effect of generative AI’ on Monday and Tuesday (instead of Wednesday), either online or in person at the EUI campus in Florence.
• Thursday-Friday: The self-evaluation assessment questionnaire is made available on the platform; the forum for collective discussion is open and additional reading material is uploaded.

Tutoring hours: Upon previous appointment request, the internal academic faculty of the Centre for a Digital Society will be available for 1 hour, once a week throughout the whole course.

Week 1 – Wednesday 5 June 2024

1.00 – 1.30 PM CEST | Welcome class: Pier Luigi Parcu Anna Ferrari 

1.30 – 3.00 PM CEST | Roundtable: Emergence of sector regulation of digital platforms around the world

Week 2 – Wednesday 12 June 2024

1.00 – 4:30/5 PM CEST  | Virtual class: ‘Search Engine Markets’ followed by a group discussion.

Content

This module will discuss the peculiarities of search engines’ business models, the main competition law investigations affecting and involving search engines (e.g., Google Shopping in the EU), and how the DMA might (or might not) affect this.

Specific learning outcomes

1. Illustrate the key economic characteristics of search engine markets
2. Identify competition problems in the context of search and advertising
3. Navigate the grey areas still present after the DMA, especially about compliance.

Week 3 – Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 June 2024

Florence Digitalisation Summer Conference ‘The disruptive market effect of generative AI’.

Hybrid conference (Florence / Zoom)

Week 4 – Wednesday 26 June 2024 

1.00 – 4:30/5 PM CEST | Virtual class on ‘Social Networks’ followed by a group discussion.

Content

This week we will cover topical issues of competition law enforcement in the area of social networks. Assessing social networking services under competition rules that were developed decades ago with brick-and-mortar outlets in mind raises many challenging questions for enforcers. How to define the relevant market? How to assess market power? What harm can social networking services possibly cause if they are free for consumers? Is there any need for competition law intervention in these fast-moving tech markets at all, and if so, are the competition rules sufficient? We will explore these and other issues against the backdrop of the enforcement practice of European and US competition agencies, and recent regulatory developments.

Specific learning outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Identify the competition rules applicable to social networking services
2. Appreciate the overlap between privacy, consumer protection and competition law
3. Identify recent regulatory developments in the EU and other select jurisdictions, as well as the conduct rules of the DMA most likely to apply to social networks

  Week 5 – Wednesday 3 July 2024

1.00 – 4:30/5 PM CEST | Virtual class on ‘E-commerce’ followed by a group discussion.

Content

The lecture on e-commerce will look into the relevance of e-commerce in selected economies. It will then focus mainly on e-commerce platforms, in particular in the consumer goods and travel sectors. What is their role and relevance and how have both evolved over time? Based mainly on EU and some national cases, participants will get acquainted with the most relevant enforcement cases and their theories of harm. This prepares the ground for an overview of recent developments with regard to platform regulation, such as the DMA, platform related specific enforcement powers, such as the German § 19a, and relevant developments in other jurisdictions.

The discussion part of the training will allow participants to introduce their national experiences. Further, a guided discussion will allow participants to expand their knowledge on platform related competition issues in merger control and horizontal and algorithmic concerns. Case examples will illustrate the discussion.

Specific learning outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Articulate how e-commerce impacts markets and competition dynamics
2. Assess the main competition problems that can arise in the e-commerce platform context
3. Describe the legal frameworks for regulating gatekeeper platforms
4. Apply the knowledge about platform competition problems to a wider range of competition concerns

Week 5 – Wednesday 10 July 2024

1.00 – 4:30/5 PM CEST | Virtual class on ‘Apps and Video Games’ followed by a group discussion.

Content

The lecture aims at providing an advanced understanding of the core principles and topics of antitrust and regulation with regards to app stores. Notably, after an overview of the role and economic features of app stores, the module will illustrate the antitrust investigations initiated against Google and Apple by focusing on the different practices at stake and will analyse the regulatory initiatives proposed and adopted to fill potential enforcement gaps. The module engages these issues from a law and economics perspective and through a comparative approach.

Specific learning outcomes

Participants will deal with theoretical issues and case studies in order to acquire methods of analysis which allow autonomous investigation. Acquired knowledge and skills will enable participants to understand and analyze the use of legal and economic tools within regulatory strategies.

The course provides participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategic perspective needed to navigate the complex regulatory landscape surrounding digital platforms. By completing the course, participants will:

• Apply the theory of ecosystems and multi-sided market and compare the business models followed by different digital platforms.
• Analyse the main competition concerns that may arise in the digital markets.
• Appraise the overlap between privacy, consumer protection and competition law.
• Get up to date with the latest enforcement cases as well as regulatory and legislative developments and employ this enhanced expertise in your workplace.
• Debate in policy discussions on the regulation of digital platforms with professionals from all over the world.

The online course is delivered on an online platform where participants can meet and interact with instructors.

The training adopts a multidisciplinary approach, allowing participants to gain a combination of theoretical and practical skills whilst promoting creative thinking.

Each module consists of dedicated reading materials, self-evaluation assessments, discussions, complementary video lectures, and interactive live classes. Recordings will be available shortly after each live class.

The course methodology is based on virtual classes, guided group discussions, forum exchanges and weekly assignments. Each of these is detailed below:

Virtual Classrooms

• The live class takes place every week, from 13:00 to 14:30 CEST.
• The instructor makes a presentation (i.e., max. 90 minutes) based on a PowerPoint (recommended length: 30/45 slides), possibly allowing for 5’ break in between (if it fits the structure of the lecture) and for questions and clarifications all along the lecture.
• During the virtual class, participants will be asked to engage thanks to interactive ZOOM polls.
• In between the class and group discussion, a break of 30’ takes place. The length of the break can be reduced according to the preference of the lecturer and the participants.
• The 90’ group discussion puts into practice the key messages delivered during the lecture through an open debate among participants, facilitated by the lecturer through structured discussion points.
• The recording of the virtual sessions will be made available on the platform as soon as possible during the week.

Group discussion

• A group discussion follows every virtual class. It lasts max 90 minutes.
• Participants stay in the plenary, and they are led through a participative open discussion by the lecturer through discussion points, but the participants are free to shape it to their interests through questions and personal comments.
• The discussion could for example cover recent cases and news about regulation of digital platforms. Participants are invited to contribute with their own professional experience or research interests.
• The lecturer of the week supervises the discussion and contributes with additional insights from the lecture.

Forum of discussion

• The instructor should provide the text of a topic to be posted in the forum to start a collective discussion after the virtual class.
• During the week, participants can continue interacting by posting follow-up questions.

Weekly assignment

• The weekly assignment consists of a self-evaluation assessment (10 questions with 3 or 4 different options and some feedback for each answer – only one option should be correct), which participants can undertake after the virtual classroom.
• Completion of the weekly assignment and the different levels of engagement are necessary to receive the certificate of attendance, distinction, and excellence.
• The instructor of the week provides the list of multiple-choice questions, as well as the correct answers.

The course is designed for professionals interested in gaining in-depth knowledge over a short period of time. Prospective participants include:

• Officials from National Competition Authorities (NCAs), National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and other public institutions
• In-house lawyers and legal counsels
• Economic consultants
• Policy and decision-makers
• Academics

Continuing Professional Development

This course’s final certificate is valid to obtain up to 16 training credits for lawyers in Belgium and France. In Italy, it awards up to 12 training credits (2 credits for each module).

It is also eligible to provide training credits for lawyers from Germany, Austria and Ireland.

Other countries

If you need assistance in liaising with your bar association for accreditation, please contact digital.society@eui.eu and we will gladly assist with the process.

Certificates

At the end of the course, participants can earn three types of certificates depending on their level of engagement and performance throughout the course.

• Certificate of attendance: participants are expected to complete at least 80% of the weekly quizzes. To qualify for this certificate, a commitment of 4-6 hours of learning per week is required.
• Certificate of distinction: participants must complete every weekly quiz and actively engage in the weekly forum discussion by posting a message with a minimum length of 300 words, contributing meaningfully. To earn this certificate, a commitment of 6-8 hours of learning per week is expected, including attendance at 4 out of 6 classes.
• Certificate of excellence: to qualify for this certificate, participants must meet the requirements for the certificate of distinction, attend all virtual classes, and submit the group assignment by the end of the course. A commitment of 8-12 hours of learning per week, including attending all virtual classes, is necessary.

General course fees: 1500 €

National Regulatory Authorities, National Competition Authorities, donors of the Centre for a Digital Society and academics: 1200 €

Post-graduate students: 1000 €

If you are an EUI student or EUI researcher, please contact anna.ferrari@eui.eu

Cancellation policy

Please note that the course fees will not be reimbursed in case of cancellation after the course start.