Digital fair play bill likely after elections

Digital economy giants such as Amazon, Google and Facebook may have to contend with a new Indian law to check anticompetitive practices.

An experts' committee set up by the corporate affairs ministry to explore the need for such a law is set to give its report, two people aware about the development said, proposing a new legislation as well as a draft bill.

Once the report is submitted, the ministry will seek public feedback on the matter, one of the two people cited above said. The bill aimed to ensure that search engines, marketplaces and social media platforms act in a fair manner-is expected to make its way to Parliament after the national polls.

The bill is unlikely to be tabled before the elections because the last Parliament session of the current Lok Sabha the budget session from 31 January to 9 February-is a short one that would focus on issues of wider public interest rather than complex, niche economic legislation.

Experts are not convinced about the need for a new law, and advise a cautious approach given that the Competition Act has already been amended recently to make it more sophisticated.