Core Points - The newly revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People's Republic of China will take effect on October 15, 2023, addressing new challenges in market competition in the digital economy era [6] - The law aims to regulate unfair competition behaviors such as false transactions, data rights protection, and platform responsibilities, providing a legal framework to promote high-quality development [6] - The law specifically prohibits platform operators from forcing or indirectly forcing platform operators to sell goods below cost, which disrupts market competition [7][8] Summary by Category Regulatory Changes - The revised law includes specific provisions against various forms of malicious transactions, such as false transactions, false reviews, and malicious returns, which harm the legitimate rights of other operators and disrupt market order [6][7] - It establishes obligations for platform operators to clarify fair competition rules in service agreements and transaction rules, and to create mechanisms for reporting and resolving unfair competition complaints [7] Market Impact - The law addresses the issue of "involution" competition, which has been detrimental to the market environment, and aims to create a healthier competitive ecosystem by promoting innovation and fair competition [7][8] - It highlights the need for collaboration among administrative agencies, judicial bodies, platforms, and related enterprises to effectively implement the law and address the challenges posed by digital economy development [7] Consumer and Business Protection - The law provides stronger legal protection for the reasonable profit margins and legitimate rights of businesses, ensuring that low-price promotions do not lead to a decline in quality control and result in disorderly competition [8]

Group 1 - The core issue identified is the deviation of trending topics on social media platforms, which often focus on trivial celebrity gossip and unverified incidents, leading to a distorted representation of public interest [1][2] - Major platforms have gained significant market share but have neglected their responsibility to manage content, prioritizing traffic over ethical considerations, resulting in a chaotic information environment [2][3] - Recent regulatory actions against several platforms serve as a corrective measure for the industry, emphasizing the need for platforms to uphold their responsibilities in content management and promote a healthy online culture [3] Group 2 - The "Internet Information Content Ecology Governance Regulations" highlight the primary responsibility of internet platforms in managing content and fostering a positive online culture [3] - There is a clear signal from regulatory bodies that platform expansion must be constrained by legal and ethical standards, reinforcing the idea that platforms are not just commercial entities but also public digital infrastructures [3] - The survival and growth of platforms depend on public engagement, and content that is sensational, vulgar, or misleading can ultimately harm their brand image and content ecosystem [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles emphasizes the need for legislative reinforcement to combat "involutionary" competition, which is damaging the foundation of healthy market development [1][2][5] - The upcoming second review of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law draft aims to include regulations on "involutionary" competition, marking a significant step in legal governance [1][2] - The urgency of addressing "involutionary" competition is highlighted by its evident harms in various sectors, including solar energy, new energy vehicles, and online platforms [2] Group 2 - The responsibility of local and regulatory authorities must be strengthened to ensure that policies do not undermine fair competition and a unified market [3] - The Fair Competition Review System is being elevated from a regulation to a law, enhancing its binding force and execution rigidity, which will benefit the enforcement of responsibilities among local and regulatory bodies [3] - Companies are urged to shift their mindset from quantity and market share dominance to fair and orderly competition, avoiding practices like price dumping and excessive marketing tactics [4] Group 3 - Strict penalties are necessary to enhance the seriousness and enforceability of regulations against "involutionary" competition, with actions planned against malicious pricing, false advertising, and other market irregularities [5] - The National Development and Reform Commission and other departments are set to take legal actions against "involutionary" competition behaviors, including public notifications and revocation of tax exemptions [5] - The overall approach to combating "involutionary" competition will involve administrative penalties, civil compensation, and potentially criminal penalties as part of a comprehensive process [5]

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms has filed a lawsuit against the European Second High Court, challenging the regulatory fees imposed by the EU on tech giants, criticizing the calculation method as opaque, excessively high, and lacking fairness [1] Group 1: Regulatory Fees - Under the Digital Services Act (DSA) effective from 2022, 18 major online platforms, including Meta and TikTok, are required to pay a regulatory fee equivalent to 0.05% of their annual global net revenue to cover the EU Commission's regulatory costs [1] - The fee amount is calculated based on each company's monthly active user count and the financial performance from the previous accounting year [1] Group 2: Legal Proceedings - The European Second High Court is expected to make a ruling on the case next year [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese government is addressing the issue of "involutionary" competition, which distorts market mechanisms and disrupts fair competition, particularly in the food delivery sector [2][3][4] Group 1: Government Response - The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has highlighted the negative impacts of "involutionary" competition, including below-cost pricing and counterfeit products, which undermine market order [2] - The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has held discussions with major platforms like JD.com, Meituan, and Ele.me to ensure compliance with legal and fair competition practices [2][3] - The 2024 Central Economic Work Conference and the 2025 National People's Congress have emphasized the need for comprehensive measures to combat "involutionary" competition [2] Group 2: Industry Challenges - "Involutionary" competition is characterized by aggressive price cuts and subsidies that aim to eliminate competitors, leading to a deterioration of market conditions [3] - The phenomenon has been exacerbated by structural issues in various industries, including blind investment and failure to keep pace with technological advancements [3] - The prevalence of low-quality competition and illegal practices, such as counterfeiting, has increased, particularly in sectors undergoing transformation [4] Group 3: Market Implications - While consumers may benefit in the short term from price wars, the long-term consequences include potential price increases and compromised product quality [3] - The pressure on merchants' profits and the lack of protection for delivery personnel's rights have been significant issues arising from this competitive environment [3][4] - The need for legal regulation and enforcement is critical to restore healthy market order and encourage innovation among companies [4]

Core Viewpoint - The recent signing of the "Network Market Collaborative Supervision Memorandum" by market regulatory departments from Jilin, Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang aims to enhance regulatory cooperation and promote the healthy development of the platform economy [1] Group 1: Regulatory Collaboration - The memorandum emphasizes "co-construction, sharing, co-discussion, and co-consultation" to strengthen communication and cooperation among the regions [1] - It aims to improve regulatory efficiency by establishing a governance system, sharing information resources, and discussing collaborative efforts [1] Group 2: Focus on Innovation and Development - The initiative seeks to promote communication and coordination among platform enterprises in the four regions, facilitating the integration of high-quality platform resources from Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang with Jilin's specialty industries [1] - It encourages the sharing of resources such as electronic evidence, identification, data analysis, and evidence collection equipment to combat false advertising and infringement issues [1]