Japan: JFTC concludes that Big data should be subject to competition law

A report by a study group at Japan’s Fair Trade Commission concludes that the collection and use of big data should be subject to the country’s anti-monopoly act.

In recent years, it is expected that knowledge derived from ‘big data’ analysis will inspire further innovation across the existing industrial boundaries in the context of the spread of Internet of Things and the advancement of artificial intelligence-related technology. The increasing importance of data utilization in business activities makes it necessary to consider the competition policy issues in order to promote data utilization.

In these circumstances, JFTC established ‘Study Group on Data and Competition Policy’ (Chair: Akira Goto, Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo) in Competition Policy Research Center and Study Group has held six meetings since January this year to clarify the issues of competition policy and the Antimonopoly Act relating to accumulation and utilization of data.

CPRC has compiled a report of Study Group based on the discussions thus far.

A complete translation of the repot will follow in a few days.

Full Content: Public Now

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.