ABSTRACT
Digital platforms are intermediaries of a special kind, due to the scale of their operations and the knowledge of the markets in which they operate. They have the ability to determine the evolution of the market and even to create new markets around them. As a consequence, it seems reasonable to impose an extra liability on them. This is already happening in Europe, where some regulatory obligations are being extended from traditional players to digital platforms in the most recent telecommunications and media legislation. Furthermore, further obligations are being imposed on platforms to ensure fairness and transparency in the vertical relationship between platforms and the underlying service providers. The balance in the vertical relationship between platforms and the underlying traditional players is particularly relevant in traditional network industries, as they are all vested with a general interest.
