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The Binary Agora · Tuesday · 28 min

#55 Technological Capture w/ Dr. Elettra Bietti

Explore the concept of technological capture in digital regulation with Elettra Bietti, an expert in law and computer science. In this episode, we discuss how big tech influences regulatory frameworks and the implications for the public interest. Read Elettra's co-authored paper with Anne Bellon on technological capture here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=7391898. Throughout the episode, Elettra touched upon several developments surrounding the concept of technological capture. Click directly on them through the links below: - 01:43, Stigler's ideas on regulatory capture: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3003160. - 06:13, Daniel Carpenter's and David Moss' book on Preventing Regulatory Capture: https://tobinproject.org/books-papers/preventing-capture. - 12:13, The US Microsoft case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp. - 15:52, Meta sets out its Oversight Board: https://transparency.meta.com/oversight/creation-of-oversight-board/. - 16:09, The EC's analysis of the Facebook/WhatsApp merger: https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m7217_20141003_20310_3962132_EN.pdf. - 16:36, The 'Spamming the Regulator' paper: https://academic.oup.com/antitrust/article-abstract/12/1/7/7128249. - 17:31, TikTok mobilises influencers against the US ban: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tiktok-influencers-us-ban-protest-b2306241.html. - 18:31, Ariel Ezrachi's and Maurice Stucke's view on frenemies: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv24w63h3. - 18:35, Branderburger's and Nalebuff's notion of co-opetition: https://www.strategy-business.com/article/17483. - 18:43, Apple and Mozilla participate in the US Google Search case: https://spyglass.org/google-apple-and-mozilla-win-in-the-antitrust-case-google-lost/. - 26:25, Phil Weiser talks about tiered remedies in the US Google Search case: https://coag.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-phil-weiser-statement-google-search-remedies-9-2-25/. Key Moments 01:05 Overview of the Paper 02:15 Corrosive Capture Explained 05:21 Limitations of Regulatory Capture Theory 08:15 Differences in EU and US Regulation 10:06 Transition to Technological Capture 14:44 Dimensions of Technological Capture 21:17 Countermeasures to Tech Power To learn more about Dr. Alba Ribera Martínez and her research, we invite you to visit her website: https://www.albariberamartinez.com. She also writes, from time to time, in her newsletter, the DMA Agora, about the latest developments surrounding the European regulation: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7344021393451184128. ________ The Binary Agora is on social media, where we upload and comment on dedicated content only for our subscribers. Stay tuned there, as well. - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebinaryagora/posts/?feedView=all - BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebinaryagora.bsky.social - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebinaryagora - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebinaryagora/ The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this podcast, its host, or any affiliated organisations.

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Explore the concept of technological capture in digital regulation with Elettra Bietti, an expert in law and computer science. In this episode, we discuss how big tech influences regulatory frameworks and the implications for the public interest.

Read Elettra's co-authored paper with Anne Bellon on technological capture here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=7391898.

Throughout the episode, Elettra touched upon several developments surrounding the concept of technological capture. Click directly on them through the links below:

- 01:43, Stigler's ideas on regulatory capture: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3003160.

- 06:13, Daniel Carpenter's and David Moss' book on Preventing Regulatory Capture: https://tobinproject.org/books-papers/preventing-capture.

- 12:13, The US Microsoft case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.

- 15:52, Meta sets out its Oversight Board: https://transparency.meta.com/oversight/creation-of-oversight-board/.

- 16:09, The EC's analysis of the Facebook/WhatsApp merger: https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m7217_20141003_20310_3962132_EN.pdf.

- 16:36, The 'Spamming the Regulator' paper: https://academic.oup.com/antitrust/article-abstract/12/1/7/7128249.

- 17:31, TikTok mobilises influencers against the US ban: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tiktok-influencers-us-ban-protest-b2306241.html.

- 18:31, Ariel Ezrachi's and Maurice Stucke's view on frenemies: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv24w63h3.

- 18:35, Branderburger's and Nalebuff's notion of co-opetition: https://www.strategy-business.com/article/17483.

- 18:43, Apple and Mozilla participate in the US Google Search case: https://spyglass.org/google-apple-and-mozilla-win-in-the-antitrust-case-google-lost/.

- 26:25, Phil Weiser talks about tiered remedies in the US Google Search case: https://coag.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-phil-weiser-statement-google-search-remedies-9-2-25/.

Key Moments

01:05 Overview of the Paper

02:15 Corrosive Capture Explained

05:21 Limitations of Regulatory Capture Theory

08:15 Differences in EU and US Regulation

10:06 Transition to Technological Capture

14:44 Dimensions of Technological Capture

21:17 Countermeasures to Tech Power

To learn more about Dr. Alba Ribera Martínez and her research, we invite you to visit her website: https://www.albariberamartinez.com.

She also writes, from time to time, in her newsletter, the DMA Agora, about the latest developments surrounding the European regulation: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7344021393451184128.

________

The Binary Agora is on social media, where we upload and comment on dedicated content only for our subscribers. Stay tuned there, as well.

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebinaryagora/posts/?feedView=all

- BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebinaryagora.bsky.social

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebinaryagora

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebinaryagora/

The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this podcast, its host, or any affiliated organisations.

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