Beyond GAFAM: How size-or-silo regulation fails to account for organisational diversity in the platform economy

If Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s recent visit to Brussels has made one thing clear, it is that there is now wide consensus that digital platforms need to be more strictly regulated. She was warmly received by a number of prominent EU politicians including Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market. Many posed with her and shared photos on social media. Such a public display indicates that regulators have become keenly aware of the platform economy and its unwanted outcomes concerning democratic participation, but also the future of work, control over digital innovation, and national sovereignty.

While we welcome this increased attention, we are concerned that current attempts at platform regulation will fall short if they continue to focus on platform size, or if they remain limited to particular normative silos. The result may be that smaller and niche platforms may continue to be neglected and fall further behind.