According to the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, on April 13, the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with the Cyberspace Administration of China and the State Taxation Administration, held an administrative guidance meeting for internet platform enterprises. The meeting implemented the arrangements of the Central Economic Work Conference and the ninth meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, affirmed the positive role of the platform economy, analyzed existing prominent issues, required full play of the warning effect of the Alibaba case, and explicitly requested that internet platform enterprises show respect for rules, comprehensively rectify problems within a specified time limit, and establish a new order for the platform economy.
The meeting pointed out that the overall state of China's platform economy is positive. However, risks and hidden dangers have gradually accumulated during rapid development, posing non-negligible harms, making legal regulation urgently needed. Issues such as forcing 'either-or' choices, abusing market dominance, implementing 'sniping mergers and acquisitions', spending heavily to dominate the 'community group buying' market, implementing 'big data price discrimination', neglecting 'counterfeit and substandard products', 'information leaks', and committing tax-related illegal acts must be strictly rectified. Among these, the issue of forcing 'either-or' choices is particularly prominent, reflecting capital’s recklessness and disorderly expansion in the platform economy sector, openly trampling and undermining market competition order. Forcing 'either-or' choices restricts market competition, stifles innovation, damages the interests of operators and consumers within the platform, and causes enormous harm, necessitating decisive eradication.
In response to forced 'either-or' choices and other prominent issues, the meeting explicitly requested that platform enterprises grasp the correct direction, enhance their sense of responsibility, prioritize national interests, and adhere to legal and regulatory operations...