Share the Data: Overcoming Trade-Offs in Tech Regulation

29 Pages Posted: 11 May 2021

See all articles by Claude Lopez

Claude Lopez

Reserve Bank of Australia

Benjamin Smith

Milken Institute

Date Written: May 10, 2021

Abstract

This report summarizes the recent key regulatory changes in the US, Europe, and China. It shows these jurisdictions have different regulatory approaches while being confronted with similar challenges. They all seek the right regulatory balance between:

• promoting market efficiency while minimizing antitrust issues,
• strengthening financial inclusion while ensuring financial stability, and
• improving consumers’ welfare while limiting data usage misconduct.

But can these approaches be reconciled under the umbrella of an inclusive and flexible global framework?

While global coordination seems unlikely on many policy issues such as antitrust or government access to data, it works for technical standards. The coherence they bring to the regulatory landscape will benefit all countries, consumers, and firms.

We identify data sharing as a necessary technical standard to restore consumer choice and strengthen competition in tech companies’ different economic sectors. We define data sharing as the combination of (i) data portability, (ii) platforms’ interoperability, and (iii) data reciprocity. In highly innovative markets such as those in the digital space, these requirements ensure low entry barriers. They also provide convenient and cost-effective alternatives to customers, allowing them to sanction firms’ poor behavior or quality of services by switching to another. Ultimately these requirements will favor competition, innovation, and consumers’ privacy.

An interactive Tech Regulation tracker can be found here https://miresearch.github.io/Tech-Regulation/

Keywords: tech, regulation, data sharing, portability, interoperability, reciprocity, financial stability

JEL Classification: f4,f5, f6, k, o

Suggested Citation

Lopez, Claude and Smith, Benjamin, Share the Data: Overcoming Trade-Offs in Tech Regulation (May 10, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3843369 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3843369

Claude Lopez (Contact Author)

Reserve Bank of Australia

65, Martin Place
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia

Benjamin Smith

Milken Institute ( email )

1250 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
United States
3105704688 (Phone)

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