Thailand: Electronic Transactions Development Agency opened consultation on the Draft of the Platform Economy Act including unilateral conduct regulation

On 25 November 2024, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) initiated a consultation on the Draft Platform Economy Act, which encompasses provisions pertaining to unilateral conduct regulation. The Act identifies "gatekeepers," defined as dominant digital platforms with significant market power, and imposes stricter obligations on them to prevent practices such as self-preferencing, exclusive agreements, and other unfair competitive tactics. These gatekeepers are obligated to ensure interoperability, transparency in algorithmic decision-making, and non-discriminatory access to their services for competitors and users. Furthermore, the PEA proscribes anti-competitive practices such as tying, bundling, or predatory pricing that have the potential to harm consumers and stifle competition. The enforcement of these regulations will be overseen by the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT), which will establish mechanisms to monitor compliance and penalise any violations.