2025
Episode 1- DMA Review Consultation with the SCiDA Team
The co-chairs of the SCiDA project, Professor Rupprecht Podzsun from Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and Professor Oles Andriychuk from the University of Exeter, along with SCiDA Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Kena Zheng from Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, discuss their thoughts with podcast host, Anush on the DMA review consultation.
Listen here: DMA Review Consultation 2025 – Rupprecht Podzsun, Oles Andriychuk and Kena Zheng
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. The conversation delves into Google’s controversial European Search Dataset Licensing Program and the underutilization of Article 6(11) data access provisions. The guests debate the DMA’s “iterative journey” approach to compliance versus achieving immediate contestability, and examine the tension between stakeholder-driven enforcement and regulatory dialogue with gatekeepers.
The SCiDA team engaged in extensive internal debate on several aspects discussed in this episode, particularly around compliance philosophy and enforcement approaches, reflecting the complexity of regulating digital markets effectively.
Episode 2- Dr. Thibault Schrepel – Complexity Science in Digital Markets
In this episode, co-hosts, Anush and Kena speak with Dr. Thibault Schrepel, Associate Professor of Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Faculty Affiliate at Stanford’s CodeX Center. Thibault is a pioneering voice in computational antitrust and the application of complexity science to digital market regulation. He founded the ‘Computational Antitrust’ project, which unites over 75 antitrust agencies globally, and has authored some of the world’s most downloaded antitrust articles, including ‘The Blockchain Antitrust Paradox’ and ‘Complexity-Minded Antitrust.’
Listen here: Thibault Schrepel- Complexitiy Science in digital markets
Thibault challenges us to rethink how we approach digital market regulation by viewing markets not as static systems but as dynamic, evolving ecosystems. We discuss the early enforcement of the DMA and UK’s DMCCA, examining whether prescriptive EU-style rules or flexible UK principles are better suited to the fast-moving nature of digital competition. He shares insights from his global work with competition agencies, revealing whether we’re seeing convergence toward the EU model or greater regulatory diversity worldwide. Thibault reminds policymakers, business leaders, and citizens alike that effective regulation requires understanding the complex, interconnected nature of digital ecosystems and designing adaptive institutions capable of responding to constant technological change.
Episode 3- Dr. Christian Bergqvist – Google’s Global Antitrust Troubles
In 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.
Listen here: Google’s Antitrust Troubles
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 brings his unique perspective as both a former Tier 1 competition lawyer and academic researcher to examine which cases pose existential threats to Google’s business model, from potential AdTech breakups to the Helena World Chronicle scraping case that could derail Google’s AI ambitions. Join us for a masterclass in digital market regulation and a preview of what the next five years hold for Big Tech.
Episode 4- Todd Davies – Generative AI and Competition Law
In this episode, Anush and Kena sat down with Todd Davies, PhD Candidate at UCL, who brings a rare combination of Silicon Valley engineering experience and rigorous legal analysis to the table.
Listen here: Generative AI and Competition Law
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 AI Overviews replacing website clicks, Todd makes the case for swift regulatory intervention before these integrations become irreversible. A must-listen for anyone wondering whether competition authorities can keep pace with AI innovation.
Episode 5- Dr. Jasper van den Boom – Digital Market Regulation: Too Far or Not Far Enough?
In this episode of the SCiDA podcast, 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.
Listen here: Digital Market Regulation: Too Far or Not Far Enough?
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 in the EU and UK?
In this first part of their two-part series on the SCiDA podcast, Jasper explains how his research on business ecosystems has shaped regulatory thinking and explores the pathways from academic research to real-world policy implementation. Part two will dive into Jasper’s book “Regulating Competition in the Digital Network Industry,” published by Cambridge University Press. Whether you’re a competition law practitioner, policy maker, or simply interested in how digital markets are being reshaped, this conversation offers essential insights into the future of digital competition regulation.
Episode 6- Dr. Jasper van den Boom – Regulating Competition in the Digital Network Industry
In this episode of the SCiDA podcast, 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.
Listen here: Regulating Competition in the Digital Network Industry
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 giants, with a radical twist: offering heavily regulated firms a “way out” if they divest parts of their ecosystems.
We explore the distinction between “good” and “bad” ecosystem competition, discuss why early DMA experiences suggest we may need a fundamental paradigm shift, and examine whether current regulatory tools can truly check the power of Big Tech—or if we need to rethink digital regulation from the ground up. Join us for a conversation that bridges law, economics, and management studies to tackle one of the most pressing policy challenges of our time.
Episode 7- Prof. Shilpi Bhattacharya – India’s Digital Market Laboratory: Experiments in Competition and Control
In 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.
Listen here: India’s Digital Market Laboratory: Experiments in Competition and Control
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 shares insights on the Draft Digital Competition Bill, platform market regulation, and how India as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets is shaping its competition law framework for the digital age, including key lessons that compare approaches in the EU and U.S.
2024
Interview with Annalaura Gallo – EU Travel Tech
You can listen to our first round of interviews now. In the first episode, we talk to Annalaura Gallo, Director of EU affairs at EU Travel Tech. EU Travel Tech represents online travel agencies, meta search sites, and global distribution systems for active in the European travel sector, defending their interests before the European institutions.
LISTEN HERE: SCIDA PODCAST #1 – Annalaura Gallo, EU Travel Tech
Annalaura has shared her views on the relationship between Google’s search services and the travel sector. She focuses particularly on explaining the issues related to self-preferencing and how this can create a disadvantage for different types of travel service providers. We discuss whether the DMA can address these problems, and why Google’s current compliance commitments under the DMA may fall short of their obligations under the DMA. Annalaura emphasises the importance of enforcing new regulations such as the DMA, and the need for a shift in mentality for both gatekeepers and end-users. She emphasises that it seems that gatekeepers should go beyond considering whether the cost of compliance is higher than non-compliance, and instead be ready to take the social responsibility that comes with their position.
Interview with Christina Oelke – VAUNET
For our second episode, , we talk to Christina Oelke. Christina is a lawyer, with experiences at prominent law firms, who now works as the deputy legal counsel for VAUNET, the German Association of Private Media, representing more than 160 members in Germany’s media landscape.
LISTEN HERE: SCIDA PODCAST #2 – Christina Oelke, VAUNET
In this interview, Christina highlights the changing media landscape. Just as regulation is catching up to the impact of search engines and social media platforms on the media sector, it is bracing for the impact of artificial intelligence and the increased use of voice-driven digital assistants. Christiana explains how media plurality and (well-funded) traditional media help to innovate, foster creativity, and even protect democracy. She asks of gatekeepers that they assume their responsibilities, while also remind end-users that we should be aware of the wider impact of our choices.
Interview with Guillaume Teissonnière – eDreams ODIGEO
In our third episode, we speak with Guillaume Teissonnière, General Counsel and Company Director at eDreams ODIGEO, which is active in the
areas of travel booking and meta search with five brands: Opodo, eDreams, GO Voyages, Travellink and Liligo. Guillaume is an experienced lawyer and has worked at the Brussels Bar in the areas of e-commerce, Tourism law, European law and IP/IT litigation, and has joined eDreams ODIGEO in 2016.
LISTEN HERE: SCIDA PODCAST #3 – Guillaume Teissonnière, eDreams ODIGEO
In the interview with Guillaume, we have focused on innovation in the travel booking industry and the need for data, diversity, and new ideas. Guillaume has explained how self-preferencing can harm competition in the travel sector, and what we can do to limit harms to competition. Guillaume calls on the Commission to enforce the DMA and clarify the law. Here, he emphasises that we should not focus too much on imposing remedies, but to treat the DMA for what it is: a list of do’s and don’ts. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the gatekeepers to comply with the law and to design compliant solutions. Guillaume also reminds end-users to embrace a diversity of services and to try new and innovative solutions. A similarity in travelling itself and the process of booking: be open to new experiences.
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.