Rich Stables, CEO of Kelkoo Group comments: “Kelkoo Group was a pioneer in comparison shopping which gave consumers access to the best online shopping deals. But since Google was allowed a stranglehold on digital markets by ranking or self-preferencing its own products over competitors, consumer choice was stunted and Kelkoo Group – once valued at around £1bn – was pushed to the cliff edge. The cost-of-living crisis counts for nothing as Big Tech denies consumers choice and lower prices.
“The Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Bill is a watershed moment in our quest to reverse Google’s march to total monopolisation of the internet. We look forward to the CMA’s Digital Markets Unit being granted formal powers to promote innovation and choice for consumers and support the growth of a vibrant digital economy for big and small businesses.
“Today is the first crucial step in the journey to pass the Bill. Big Tech will persist in its attempts to derail this much-needed Bill that will allow competition and choice in the UK once again. We urge the Government to continue to stand firm against Big Tech’s multi-million-pound lobbying machine which amounts to full-force delaying tactics. In Europe, Google has already caused over a 13-year delay in the Shopping case – this cannot be repeated in the UK.”
In summary:
- Consumers are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis and small online businesses continue to struggle
- The Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Bill has the potential to be the silver bullet in restoring an even playing field for challenger ecommerce brands
- The Digital Markets Unit and its proposed Code of Conduct will be a gamechanger… but…
- We know first-hand how Big Tech delays regulation – and this must not be allowed to happen in the UK
“The UK Government’s tough stance will be a great marker for EU enforcers working on DMA implementation. All eyes are now on the US to follow.”