Meta, previously known as Facebook has told the parliamentary panel that enacting the gatekeepers norms will have a chilling effect on Indian startups, months after the panel recommended that India should select “gatekeeper” platforms for heightened scrutiny of anti-competitive behavior in June. The big tech companies such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Netflix amongst others met the parliamentary panel on August 23 amidst the allegations of anti-competitive behavior. 

As per a report by Moneycontrol, Meta has further argued that large players can bridge the digital connectivity gap by providing last-mile connectivity and driving up digital adoption. Meta said, if the gatekeeper norms are imposed then it would impair its ability to do so in India, the report said. The big tech players have been also alleged of becoming a duopoly. The panel previously said that certain digital platforms require “specialized and targetted regulation.”

Apart from big tech players, several Indian tech companies like Flipkart, MakeMyTrip, Ola, Paytm, Swiggy, and Zomato were also summoned by the parliamentary panel over anti-competitive behavior and monopolizing the market last month. Notably, the domestic tech players alleged that they are facing "unfair trade practices" from big tech firms. 

At present, European Union has enforced “Gatekeeper norms,” to curtail anti-competitive behaviors by big tech companies. These norms are applied to companies with a large user base. In order to enforce Gatekeeper norms in India, the Indian government, in the monsoon session this year, introduced Competition Bill, 2022, with certain amendments to the existing Competition Act, 2002.