Russia (bbabo.net), - The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) signed a memorandum with IT companies on joining the principles of interaction between participants in digital markets. The document assumes self-regulation of the industry and the rejection of unfair practices in relation to consumers, competitors and other market participants.

Among the main principles of the document are free access to information about how search results are ranked, and the principle of avoiding broad and ambiguous wording in the rules for the operation of digital platforms. As a result of the latter, as a rule, users suffer, whose accounts can be deleted or blocked without explanation.

The principles have been developed on the basis of the practice of the FAS Russia and the antimonopoly authorities of other countries and take into account the entire range of violations of antimonopoly laws that have been identified or are being investigated in the world at the moment.

“Self-regulation mechanisms are important for the further development of the industry, without “hard” regulatory interference, as well as a balanced and equal approach to market participants. Special attention should be paid to creating favorable conditions for consumers, small and medium-sized businesses,” said Maxim Shaskolsky, head of the FAS.

Most of the issues regulated by the memorandum are already enshrined in civil and antitrust laws, but the companies that signed it are convinced that this will confirm the commitment of market participants to follow good business practices.

Among the signatories of the document are the Association of Internet Trade Companies (AKIT) and 11 companies - Yandex, Sberbank, Ozon, VK, Lamoda, Cyan, Russoft, Wildberries, 1C, Avito and Aliexpress.

All signatories of the document note its balance, which meets the interests of all market participants. "The signing of the memorandum contributes to the development of competition and the improvement of user experience," the Yandex press service said.

Ozon notes the importance of digital platforms for society today. In this regard, the company considers it fundamentally important to define the rules of reasonableness and good faith in the activities of digital platforms. "The platforms also have a decisive influence on the behavior of citizens, up to the formation of preferences and habits," the company's press service noted.

"In the young market of digital platforms, regulation should be soft and flexible in order to give it the opportunity to take shape and strengthen, otherwise it may lead to a significant slowdown in the development of online platforms, and, as a result, to a decrease in the income of Russian entrepreneurs who operate through similar online platforms," ​​the Wildberries press service explained, noting that the signing of the memorandum also creates a mechanism for resolving disputes: emerging contradictions will be discussed by the players at the FAS Expert Council in a pre-trial order.

"We are sure that such "soft" regulation is the most appropriate approach for emerging IT markets," said Viktor Topadze, director of legal affairs and government relations at Avito. The representative of Avito recalled the recent settlement agreement between Yandex and IT companies in the so-called case of "sorcerers", noting that it is fully consistent with the principles laid down in the memorandum.

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