Interview with Kush Amlani – Mozilla
This episode we interview Kush Amlani, Global Competition & Regulatory Counsel at Mozilla. Mozilla is a non-profit backed technology organisation, known for the flagship Firefox browser. Mozilla is also recognised for its advocacy campaigns that champion privacy, human dignity, and an open internet.
LISTEN HERE: SCiDA Podcast #4 – Kush Amlani, Mozilla
Kush Amlani takes us through the competitive landscape in the browser space and shares insights from Mozilla’s research into effective choice screens. We also discuss the impact of DMA on enabling fairer competition in the browser market and the effectiveness of choice screens as they are today. As part of the conversation we also talk about the role of regulators, academics, challenger companies and gatekeepers in giving consumers real choice.
Interview with Clark Parsons & Felix Styma – Internet Economy Foundation
In this episode we had two guests, Clark Parsons, Managing Director, and Felix Styma, Senior Advisor, of the Internet Economy Foundation (IEF). The IEF was founded to promote the interests of a diverse and innovative European digital landscape. The IEF has long been a proponent of ex ante regulation of digital markets and has published research on fair search and the monopoly problem in digital markets.
LISTEN HERE: SCiDA Podcast #5 – Clark Parsons & Felix Styma, Internet Economy Foundation
Clark and Felix discuss the emergence of the IEF and the challenges that stand in the way of European internet start-ups. They highlight how dependence on Big Tech and the risk of self-preferencing or acquisition can create investment kill zones, which may limit new initiatives and thereby hinder competition and innovation. They emphasise the importance of enforcing the DMA and to ensure effective compliance by gatekeepers, and laud the rapid enforcement by the Commission in the early days of the DMA. We also discuss the role of national competition authorities, the importance of competition on the merits (for everyone, including the gatekeeper), and share their reflections on a successful future for the DMA.
Interview with Vanessa Turner – BEUC
In this episode we talk to Vanessa Turner, Senior Advisor for Competition at BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation. BEUC is the umbrella group for 45 independent consumer organisations from 31 countries, representing them in front of the European institutions. BEUC’s mission is to ensure that the EU takes policy decisions that improve the lives of consumers.
LISTEN HERE: SCiDA Podcast #6 – Vanessa Turner – BEUC
Vanessa talks about the relationship between gatekeepers, user choices, and the interests of business users, and how promoting consumer interests means promoting the interests of business users, competition, and innovation. We discuss topics ranging from the intricacies of user interface design, to the concerns about how artificial intelligence will develop in the (near) future. Vanessa emphasises the importance of enforcing the DMA, the testing of compliance solutions, and access to data to ensure that it is effective in achieving its objectives. She warns end users of the nudges embedded in the designs of digital products that are easy to miss, and cautions us to make informed choices.
