AGCM

The final joint declaration includes commitments to better tackle the impact and competitive risks of artificial intelligence in the economy and society. President Rustichelli: “An opportunity to discuss the challenges ahead and to witness the potential we have when Authorities join forces for common goals”

The G7 Competition Summit, chaired by Roberto Rustichelli, concluded this morning in Rome at the headquarters of the Italian Competition Authority. The event, which took place behind closed doors on the afternoon of 3 October and the morning of 4 October, welcomed antitrust and government delegations from the Group’s seven member countries (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States) and the European Commission, for a total of 35 delegates.

The central theme of the two-day meeting was artificial intelligence and related competition issues. The decision to focus on this topic “reflects a forward-looking approach”, said President Rustichelli, “as it recognises the transformative impact of AI on our economies and societies”.

The AGCM set up a working group on artificial intelligence and brought a technical paper to the Summit, which formed the basis of the discussion on the first day, focusing on current and future horizon scanning and enforcement activities. The second day focused on policy and regulatory issues. The discussion was prompted by a paper prepared by the OECD examining the interplay of regulatory and enforcement measures taken in different jurisdictions to curb the market power of large platforms.

The Summit concluded with a joint statement (Communiqué) on digital competition, underscoring the societal risks posed by the emergence of AI, while also acknowledging the substantial opportunities for innovation and economic growth it presents. In particular, competition authorities and policymakers express concerns about human innovation and copyright, consumer protection, privacy and data protection. Collectively, these risks - the statement says - “can significantly affect the diversity of voices, the range and quality of choices available to consumers and businesses, and the quality and reliability of information available to the public”.

Therefore, G7 competition authorities have committed to vigorous and timely antitrust enforcement “to safeguard fair competition in digital markets and AI, and to ensure that the benefits of AI are fully realized and widely available in our economies and societies”. They also emphasized the importance of adaptive and forward-looking policies in digital markets and AI: “AI-specific regulation and policies, as well as other regulatory and policy approaches, may help ensure AI systems are developed and deployed in a safe, secure, and trustworthy manner” the joint statement reads.

Competition authorities aim to deepen and improve their understanding of AI technologies and underlying business models, to continuously monitor AI market developments, and to strengthen international cooperation, taking into account the rapid evolution and global reach of digital markets and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. Promoting dialogue between different policy areas and coordinating between regulators is essential.

President Rustichelli remarked that the Summit held in Rome “was not only a meeting to discuss the challenges we face, but also a testimony to the potential we unlock when Authorities join forces for common goals”.

Rome, 4 October 2024

G7 2024 - Digital Competition Communiqué

Discussion Paper for the G7 Competition Summit 

OECD Note on Competition Policy in Digital Markets