Digital Competition Bill: Startups Call For Protecting Domestic Innovation

Indian startups have voiced their opinions on the proposed Digital Competition Bill, calling for provisions that protect domestic innovation from the anti-competitive practices of large global tech companies. In their submissions to the government committee reviewing the bill, startup founders have highlighted the need for a regulatory framework that ensures a level playing field. They have argued that the bill should include ex-ante regulations, which would proactively identify and regulate large, dominant digital platforms to prevent them from stifling competition. The startups are seeking measures that curb practices like self-preferencing, bundling of services, and the misuse of data. Their key demand is to create a more balanced digital ecosystem where smaller, innovative Indian companies can compete fairly with established tech giants, thereby fostering a more vibrant and self-reliant digital economy in India.