Shows
Shaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 18 - Selcukhan Unekbas and Pankhudi Khandelwal: Killer Acquisitions, Interoperability, the Google Adtech Decision and moreIn this episode, Anush Ganesh is joined by two doctoral researchers from the European University Institute: Selcukhan Unekbas and Pankhudi Khandelwal, both working under the supervision of Professor Nicolas Petit.Selcukhan's research examines how competitiveness, innovation, and capabilities should reshape European merger law. He discusses his empirical work on killer acquisitions, which found limited support for the theory that large tech companies acquire rivals to eliminate them, and explains the Dynamic Competition Initiative's proposal for a "Dynamically As-Efficient Competitor" test that would protect entrants capable of matching incumbent efficiency in the future rather than requiring them to...
2026-02-021h 18Shaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 17- Konstantina Bania - Digital Markets Act under pressure: Enforcement, AI Expansion, and Transatlantic TensionsIn this episode, Anush and Kena speak with Dr Konstantina Bania, Partner at Geradin Partners and Senior Lecturer at Brunel University London, about the evolving landscape of EU digital platform regulation. Konstantina brings a unique perspective as both a leading practitioner advising clients across the digital economy and an academic whose work on the Digital Markets Act has shaped understanding of this landmark legislation.We discuss whether the DMA has delivered on its promise to be more effective than traditional competition enforcement, drawing on Konstantina's direct involvement in proceedings concerning Apple's designation. The conversation then turns to...
2026-01-291h 00Shaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 16- Zlatina Georgieva - Escaping Article 102: From Unicorn Defences to Marketised MonetisationIn this episode, Anush and Kena welcome Dr Zlatina Georgieva from Utrecht University to discuss her recent research on EU competition law. We explore her work with Malgorzata Kozak on why escaping liability under Article 102 remains as elusive as finding a unicorn, how the Intel case changed the evidentiary landscape for dominant undertakings, and why the European Commission's proposed break-up of Google's AdTech business may not go far enough. Zlatina introduces 'marketised monetisation,' a novel remedy devised with Todd Davies that would let consumers choose which advertising network monetises their use of Google's platforms...
2026-01-1353 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 15- Friso Bostoen - AI Agents, the DMA, and Pricing Training DataIn this episode, Anush and Kena are joined by Friso Bostoen, Assistant Professor of Competition Law and Digital Regulation at Tilburg University, to explore the competition policy challenges posed by AI agents. The conversation examines whether the EU's Digital Markets Act is equipped to handle autonomous AI systems that can book flights, make purchases, and interact with businesses on our behalf. Friso shares his analysis of how existing gatekeeper obligations apply to this emerging technology, the regulatory gaps that remain, and why today's tech giants may be best positioned to dominate the AI agent market. ...
2026-01-081h 12Shaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 14- Behrang Kianzad - Fairness vs Efficiency: Rethinking Competition LawIn this episode, Anush and Kena sit down with Dr Behrang Kianzad, founder of FIDMA and senior researcher at Malmö University, to explore why fairness is re-emerging as a central concept in antitrust after decades of efficiency-dominated thinking.Behrang takes us through his 'Neo-Kantian' approach to competition law, the behavioural economics evidence showing humans are hardwired for fairness, and what the Digital Markets Act's emphasis on 'unfairness' means for enforcement. We also discuss COVID-19 price gouging, the Meta/Facebook case, and whether traditional fairness concepts can apply to AI-driven algorithmic pricing.A must-listen for anyone i...
2025-12-2254 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 13- Alissa Cooper - Google Search and AI Competition: Comparing UK, EU and US approachesIn this episode, Anush and Jasper are joined by Dr. Alissa Cooper, Executive Director of the Knight-Georgetown Institute, to discuss KGI's recent submissions to competition authorities on both sides of the Atlantic regarding Google's search monopoly. The conversation begins with the CMA's provisional designation of Google under the UK's new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. Alissa explains why KGI supports the designation but criticizes the intervention roadmap for prioritizing ineffective measures like choice screens and data portability over more impactful remedies such as restricting default payments and requiring data sharing. The discussion then shifts to Judge...
2025-12-1151 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 12- Deni Mantzari - FRAND Pricing in Digital Ecosystems: Rethinking Fairness in App StoresAnush and Kena are joined by Dr. Deni Mantzari, Associate Professor in Competition Law and Policy at UCL and co-Director of the Centre for Law, Economics and Society, for a compelling conversation about fair pricing in digital platform ecosystems. We explore her groundbreaking research on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) pricing for app store access under the EU's Digital Markets Act. Deni challenges traditional pricing models and proposes a principles-based framework that recognizes how value is jointly created in digital ecosystems, arguing that platforms shouldn't be compensated for 'network-effect rents' that arise from ecosystem lock-in rather than genuine innovation.
2025-12-1057 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 11- Viktorija Morozovaite - Hypernudging, Discursive Power, and Europe's Tech FutureIn this episode, Anush and Kena sit down with Dr. Viktorija Morozovaite, Postdoctoral Researcher in EU Competition Law and Digital Regulation at Utrecht University, to explore three cutting-edge themes at the intersection of competition law, technology, and democracy.Viktorija unpacks the concept of hypernudging: the sophisticated behavioural manipulation tactics employed by digital platforms that go far beyond traditional nudging. We examine why these practices raise specific concerns under Article 102 TFEU and how they fundamentally challenge conventional competition law frameworks.We delve into her groundbreaking work on discursive power, exploring how Big Tech companies wield influence...
2025-12-0447 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 10- Magali Eben - Press Publishers, Digital Platforms, and the UK's Growth AgendaJoin Anush and Kena as they welcome Dr Magali Eben from the University of Glasgow School of Law for a discussion on digital platform regulation. The conversation begins with press publisher rights in the digital age, examining whether digital markets legislation can effectively address the challenges facing publishers or if more comprehensive interventions are needed beyond competition policy frameworks.The discussion then explores the UK's CMA's growth agenda and provides a comparative analysis of the DMCCA and DMA, examining their key differences in approach. Magali offers insights into how the UK's distinctive regulatory path compares with the...
2025-11-251h 12Shaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 9- Sangyun Lee - Digital Platform Regulation in South Korea and JapanJoin hosts Anush and Kena as they speak with Dr Sangyun Lee, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Kyoto University, about South Korea's evolving approach to digital platform regulation.Sangyun traces his journey from Korea University through multiple Korean regulatory agencies to his currentresearch position, exploring why economic dependence on platform giants has shaped Korea's cautious regulatory stance. The conversation examines the Korea Fair Trade Commission's (KFTC) proposed shift from DMA-style ex-ante rulestoward a flexible, rebuttable presumptions framework and whether this "middle path" represents pragmatic adaptation or regulatory hesitation.The discussion covers Korea's ‘enlightening the ignorant’ strategy of e...
2025-11-1855 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 8- Madhavi Singh - Stargate to Search: AI Innovation, Publishers, and Competition Law's New FrontierIn this episode, Anush and Kena are joined by Madhavi Singh, Deputy Director of the Thurman Arnold Project and Resident Fellow at Yale Law School, as they explore the collision between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and competition law. This episode examines the Stargate Project (a $500 billion joint venture between OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Arm) and asks whether such massive-scale AI partnerships raise unique competition concerns for regulators.The discussion ranges from Google's evolving role in search markets (has it "broken its original bargain" by shifting from indexing to AI model training?) to the practical...
2025-11-1055 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 7- Shilpi Bhattacharya - India's Digital Laboratory: Experiments in Competition and ControlIn this episode, Anush and Kena were joined by Professor Shilpi Bhattacharya, Professor of Competition Law at O.P. Jindal Global University, India, and a leading scholar at the intersection of competition law, behavioral economics, and digital markets. With a PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam and extensive practice experience, she brings a uniquely global perspective to understanding India's rapidly evolving digital economy and has become one of the foremost voices on Indian competition law.The conversation explores India's emergence as a fascinating laboratory for digital competition issues, from WhatsApp's privacy policy controversies to e-commerce platform regulations. Shilpi...
2025-11-0354 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 6- Jasper van den Boom (2) - Regulating Competition in the Digital Network IndustryIn this episode, Anush and Kena dive deep into Jasper van den Boom's groundbreaking new book "Regulating Competition in the Digital Network Industry" (Cambridge University Press, December 2025). Jasper introduces us to "progressive ecosystem regulation"—a bold new framework that challenges how we think about competition in digital markets.Moving beyond traditional market-by-market approaches, Jasper argues that Big Tech firms don't just dominate individual platforms—they act as de facto regulators of entire segments of the digital network industry through their ecosystems. His solution? A three-tier regulatory system that creates different obligations for entrants, mature ecosystems, and incumbent gian...
2025-10-3037 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 5- Jasper van den Boom - Digital Market Regulation: Too Far or Not Far Enough? A Debate on Designation, Timing, and InvestmentIn this episode, Anush and Kena are joined by Jasper van den Boom, Assistant Professor of EU Competition Law at Leiden University's Europa Institute and Associate of the SCiDA project, for an in-depth conversation exploring the cutting edge of digital market regulation. The three engage in a lively debate about what the designation process entails across the EU, UK, and Germany, examining best practices and critical timing challenges in digital market enforcement. They also tackle bigger questions: Is digital market regulation going too far, or is it not doing enough? How is the regulatory landscape affecting the investment climate...
2025-10-2752 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 4 - Todd Davies - Generative AI: Innovation or Infringement of Competition Law?Former Google software engineer turned competition law scholar Todd Davies joins Anush and Kena to explore the legal battleground where AI meets antitrust. Drawing on six years inside Big Tech and his PhD research at UCL, Todd examines whether integrating generative AI into dominant platforms like WhatsApp and Google Search violates competition law through tying and self-preferencing. He unpacks the "foreclosure by enclosure" problem where publicly accessible knowledge gets locked inside proprietary AI systems and argues that tech giants had alternative design choices that wouldn't raise red flags. From Stack Overflow's existential crisis to Google's...
2025-10-241h 04Shaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 3 - Christian Bergqvist - Google’s Antitrust TroublesIn this episode, Anush and Kena sit down with Dr. Christian Bergqvist, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and Senior Fellow at the GW Competition and Innovation Lab, to discuss his groundbreaking research mapping over 100 antitrust cases against Google across 23 jurisdictions. Christian unpacks the dramatic shift in regulatory sentiment toward Big Tech, revealing how Google transformed from universally loved to broadly loathed by governments within just a few years. We explore the patterns behind these cases, 86% fall into just eight categories, with Google Search, Android, and AdTech at the center of the storm.Christian...
2025-10-2142 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 2 - Thibault Schrepel - Complexity science in digital marketsIn this episode, Anush and Kena are joined by Dr Thibault Schrepel, Associate Professor of Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Faculty Affiliate at Stanford's CodeX Center. Thibault brings a unique perspective to digital market regulation through his groundbreaking work in computational antitrust and complexity science. He's the founder of the 'Computational Antitrust' project uniting over 75 antitrust agencies globally, and author of the world's most downloaded antitrust articles in recent years, including 'The Blockchain Antitrust Paradox' and 'Complexity-Minded Antitrust.' His recent books 'Blockchain + Antitrust', “Artificial Intelligence and Competition Policy”, and awards highlight his position at the forefron...
2025-10-0738 minShaping Competition in the Digital Age (SCiDA)Episode 1 - Rupprecht Podszun, Oles Andriychuk and Kena Zheng - DMA Review Consultation 2025Hosted by Dr. Anush Ganesh, this episode features SCiDA co-chairs Professor Rupprecht Podszun (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf) and Professor Oles Andriychuk (University of Exeter), along with Dr. Kena Zheng (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf), discussing their response to the DMA review consultation.In this episode, the team examines the first two years of DMA practice and explores critical gaps in enforcement, particularly around AI and cloud services. They discuss why major players like Nvidia, OpenAI, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud haven't been designated despite meeting quantitative criteria, and propose AI services as a new core platform service category.
2025-10-0153 min
The Outer JoinBuilding Reliable Systems that Stand the Test of Time with Anush Kumar, VP of technology at ExpediaAnush Kumar, VP of technology at Expedia, speaks with Venrock partner Ganesh Srinivasan about the technical challenges Expedia faced during COVID, the importance of thinking about the "collective why" in engineering, and the need for planning for a worst-case scenario from the get-go. Kumar also shares his thoughts on the rise of intelligent applications. [00:01:10] Anush’s path to Expedia [00:03:39] The scale and challenges of Expedia during COVID [00:05:34] Thinking about the "collective why" in engineering [00:07:16] Planning for a worst-case scenario from the get-go [00:08:34] The rise of intelligent applications...
2023-03-3018 min