IGF-USA 2022 Session

Future of Online Markets

Thursday, July 21

2:30 – 3:45 PM EDT

Technology companies, operating as facilitators between buyers and sellers, have created new spaces for a wide variety of commercial transactions. But regulators and lawmakers argue that large firms, such as Amazon and Google, have exploited their position within the market. Government officials claim that, with the aid of network effects and power asymmetries, these firms have insulated their market power to the detriment of consumers, small businesses, and innovation.  This session will examine current antitrust proposals advancing through Congress — including those that supporters hope will pass in July — and their potential impact on major digital services (E.g. app stores) and the consumer experience.

Will Duffield

Policy Analyst, Cato Institute

View Bio

Will Duffield is a policy analyst in the Cato Institute’s Center for Representative Government, where he studies speech and internet governance. His research focuses on the web of government regulation and private rules that govern Americans’ speech online.

Charlotte Slaiman

Competition Policy Director, Public Knowledge

View Bio

Charlotte is the Competition Policy Director at Public Knowledge. Prior to joining Public Knowledge, Charlotte worked in the Anticompetitive Practices Division of the Federal Trade Commission, investigating and litigating antitrust conduct violations, including the 2017 case against 1-800 Contacts for manipulating Google search ad auctions. She previously worked as a Legislative Aide to Senator Al Franken, focusing on Judiciary Committee issues including competition, media, and consumer privacy. Charlotte received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and graduated with distinction with a degree in Government from the University of Virginia. Charlotte grew up in the D.C. area and lives in Park View. She loves indie comic books, urbanism, and Maryland blue crabs.

Carl Szabo

VP and General Counsel, NetChoice

View Bio

As Vice President and General Counsel, Carl analyzes, advocates, and testifies on tech-related legislative and regulatory initiatives relevant to online companies. Carl is also an adjunct professor of internet law at the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. Before joining NetChoice, Carl was an intellectual property attorney at the lawfirm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon where he advised clients on privacy, Internet, e-commerce, and contractual matters. He also worked at the lawfirms of Venable and Arnold & Porter. Carl also worked on copyright, trademark, and anti-piracy both for Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Before law school, Carl worked at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the staff of Commissioner Orson Swindle, where he helped create and implement the FTC’s Consumer Information Security Outreach Plan and assisted the White House in establishing the National Strategy for Cyber Security. Carl obtained his J.D. and Communications Law Certificate from the Catholic University of America, magna cum laude, and Carl obtained his B.A. in Economics, Managerial Studies, and Policy Studies from Rice University. Carl is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and has been recognized as a “Tech Titan” by the Washingtonian.

Moderator

Ben Brody

Reporter, Protocol