ANKARA, April 14, 2026 — The Turkish Competition Authority has launched a new study examining how digitalisation is reshaping competition and regulation, as part of efforts to adapt competition policy to rapidly evolving digital markets.
The initiative, titled “Competition Policies in the Digital Age,” will assess how developments such as digital platforms, data-driven business models and ecosystem-based market structures are transforming competitive dynamics and challenging traditional enforcement tools.
Addressing new challenges in digital markets
According to the authority, digitalisation is fundamentally changing how markets operate. The rise of platform-based business models, combined with strong network effects, large data advantages and economies of scale, allows companies in digital markets to rapidly build durable market power.
These characteristics can raise barriers to entry, reduce competitive pressure and accelerate market concentration, prompting regulators worldwide to reassess how competition law should respond.
The new study aims to consolidate the authority’s experience from previous investigations, sector inquiries and enforcement decisions into a systematic framework for understanding competition issues in the digital economy.
Evaluating new regulatory approaches
A central focus of the project will be the growing debate over whether traditional ex-post competition enforcement—which addresses problems after they occur—is sufficient for the fast-moving digital sector.
Regulators in several jurisdictions, including the European Union, the United Kingdom and Germany, have increasingly introduced ex-ante rules designed to prevent anti-competitive conduct by powerful digital platforms before it occurs.
The study will examine these different regulatory models, ranging from rule-based frameworks to principle-based approaches and adaptations of existing competition law tools.
Global developments and national policy design
While global digital platforms operate across borders, the authority noted that regulatory solutions must still reflect each country’s economic structure, legal system and institutional framework. At the same time, policymakers must closely follow international developments when designing domestic policies.
The study will therefore analyse global trends in the digital economy, the market positions of major technology companies and emerging competition concerns linked to data ownership, platform ecosystems and multi-sided markets.
Next-generation competition issues
Researchers will also examine how traditional competition law instruments—such as sanctions, interim measures and commitments—can be applied effectively in digital markets.
The project will culminate in the publication of the “Competition Policies in the Digital Age Report,” which is intended to provide updated policy recommendations and strengthen Türkiye’s competition framework for the digital economy.
The report will build on the authority’s earlier study, “Reflections of Digital Transformation on Competition Law,” expanding its analysis in light of more recent developments in digital markets.
