The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) convened a strategic policy dialogue on March 19, 2025 to tackle growing concerns over consumer choice and competition in the digital economy, particularly in data collection practices by major tech platforms.
Discussions centered on a PCC market study that examined the dominance of big tech firms, specifically Meta’s Facebook and Google, and how their control over data collection, network effects, and economies of scale reinforce their market power.
A key issue raised was the lack of consumer choice in data collection, as major platforms impose privacy policies that leave users with little bargaining power over their personal data.
Regulators also explored the role of data portability (allowing users to transfer their data between platforms) and interoperability (enabling seamless data exchange across systems) in fostering competition.
