Companies have opposed the Internet and Mobile Association of India's (IAMAI) submission regarding the Draft Digital Competition Bill.

Matrimony.com and Sharechat, among four companies, have written to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs expressing disagreement with the Industry Association IAMAI’s stance on the draft Digital Competition Bill (DCB). They argue that IAMAI's submission does not represent the diverse views of its over 540 members, as it predominantly reflects the minority opposition to the 'ex-ante' provisions in the bill.

These companies, including Matrimony.com's Founder and MD Murugavel Janakiraman, Hoichoi’s Co-founder Vishnu Moha, Match Group's Head of Government Relations Morgan Cauvin, and Sharechat’s CFO Manohar Singh Charan, believe that maintaining the current 'ex-post' regulatory approach will allow established players to continue exploiting regulatory gaps, thereby stifling competition and innovation.

The letter, addressed to Corporate Affairs Secretary Manoj Govil, emphasizes that 'ex-ante' provisions are crucial for proactively monitoring the behaviors of large digital enterprises and enabling the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to intervene before anti-competitive conduct occurs.

They criticize the IAMAI for ignoring the need for targeted regulatory interventions to address market distortions and abuses. While acknowledging the need to revisit the thresholds for designating Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), they argue that IAMAI’s concerns about the draft DCB oppose the broader goal of promoting fair competition and protecting consumer welfare in India’s digital economy.

The companies suggest adjusting the thresholds for SSDEs to ensure that only the largest digital gatekeepers, and not smaller startups, are subject to the ex-ante regulations. They urge the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to advance the draft DCB, addressing any remaining concerns during the drafting of regulations to ensure a clear regulatory framework that fosters fair competition and innovation.