News analysis

Examining Brazil’s ‘Ecosystem Approach’ to Digital Antitrust

Tech Policy Press · Laís Martins, Megan Kirkwood · last updated

In September, the Brazilian government submitted to Congress an ambitious digital markets bill that marks the country’s first attempt at passing a policy designed to tackle the economic power of Big Tech.

It proposes giving Brazil’s competition authority, CADE, new ways to bring challenges in digital markets. Based on a designation process for platforms of systemic relevance, the bill would impose new obligations designed to guarantee transparency, interoperability and non-discrimination by major tech companies. The bill was drafted in a joint effort between CADE and Brazil’s Finance Ministry based on results of a public consultation held in 2024 by the latter.

In the lower house of Congress, the bill has been designated a rapporteur and is now awaiting a decision on the creation of a special commission to analyse the proposal. But experts anticipate small chances of having the bill approved in 2026, given that Brazil will hold general elections in October, which takes up a large part of the political agenda in Brazil.

 

Related Knowledge Center: State of the business model

State of Play

The traditional journalism business model has long since collapsed, and news organizations have shrunk or disappeared entirely. While a number of promising experiments are under way, the public has not shown a willingness to buy what news organizations are selling.

Artificial intelligence


More informationabout State of the business model

Related Knowledge Center: Media and the law

State of Play

Toxic politics and vast shifts in the technology landscape have created a plethora of thorny issues — both legal and ethical — for newsrooms, courts, and regulators.

The Meta-FTC trial | Section 230


More informationabout Media and the law