ANALYSIS: U.S., U.K., EU Want Sharper Eyes on Big Tech Mergers

Facing widespread criticism that they have permitted technology platforms to grow into monsters in recent years, competition enforcers in the U.S., European Union, and United Kingdom are rethinking their approach to regulating digital markets.

Each jurisdiction proposes a different approach to merger reform in the digital sector. But they share some common goals: addressing the unique features of online markets, restoring competition where possible, and keeping nascent markets from becoming dominated by one player. Regardless of how these enforcers proceed, their proposed approaches signal headwinds for tech mergers in 2021.

Mergers played a similar, important role in consolidating the dominant ...