Reiko Aoki, Japanese Fair Trade Commissioner

WASHINGTON – Japanese antitrust enforcers are finding ways to apply existing competition law to several unique challenges presented by the emerging digital economy, according to a top enforcement official. First among Japanese Fair Trade Commissioner Reiko Aoki’s priorities is protecting freelancers—also known as the “gig” labor force. “Freelancers are not really ‘firms’, so they’re in a very weak position,” Aoki says in this interview, recorded at the 2018 ABA’s annual Spring Antitrust Meeting. Aoki believes, however, that “current anti-monopoly law is sufficient to protect workers from exploitation by digital firms.”

WASHINGTON – Current Japanese competition laws are sufficient for meeting the unique challenges of the digital economy, according to a top antitrust enforcer there. “One of the goals of the law is to promote innovation and economic growth [and] I think our laws are equipped,” Japanese Fair Trade Commissioner Reiko Aoki says in this interview, recorded at the 2018 annual ABA’s spring antitrust meeting. Leveraging current anti-monopoly law to protect the “gig” labor force prominent in the digital economy, Aoki says her nation is breaking new ground. Similarly, by applying economic theories such as two-sided markets and vertical mergers, Aoki says, “We feel very comfortable evaluating these deals.” by Whitney McKnight