Dr Subhajit Basu gives keynote lecture at the Third International Conference on Comparative Law

The Third International Conference on Comparative Law was organised by Amity Law School, Noida, in collaboration with the School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.

School of Law Associate Professor in Information Technology Law Dr Subjahit Basu was invited to give a Keynote Lecture at the Third International Conference on Comparative Law organized by Amity Law School, Noida [Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India], in collaboration with the School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, on Saturday, February 19, 2022. 

In his lecture “The Regulation of Big Techs” Dr Basu discussed if it is possible to develop a coordinated international approach to regulate Big Techs.  

He stated “The world's largest platform technology companies — Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta - operate with Machiavellian aggression. The ease and speed with which these companies can scale up their activities are astonishing.  

“These companies have a worrying level of influence without accountability. This unchecked concentration of power in "digital monopolies" also negatively impacts the government and businesses. It is no longer a question of if we should regulate Big Tech, but rather how we regulate. However, to regulate Big Tech, governments first need to determine the appropriate regulatory scope for the industry. They need to define what is within the regulated perimeter and outside. This is crucial because governments need to engage with both regulated and unregulated areas. In India, this problem has a different dimension.  

“The gap between Big Tech and its commitment to democracy in India appears to be widening by the day. Several policy initiatives have emerged in China, the EU, and the US over the last few years in the areas of competition, data protection, business conduct, and financial stability. However, the efforts have been disjointed, which benefited the Big Techs. I think the European Union is probably at the most advanced stage when it comes to proposing effective legislation. I concluded that a regulation that is ineffective in meeting its objectives could be just as harmful to government, businesses and consumers/citizens as no regulation or over-regulation.”