Technological convergence is the driving force of the emergence of disruptive business models in the communication and audiovisual markets. The diffusion of internet applications, such as the popular Netflix, Amazon Prime and others, reveals this trend. These innovations, however, bring immense legal challenges to the regulation of competition. While traditional telecommunications services are still subject to traditional regulation by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) and the National Film Agency (Ancine), services provided from the internet-commonly called Over-Top services-generally escaped services to traditional regulatory frames. This situation puts us in a true paradox: how to foster competition between asymmetrically regulated economic activities?

With this in mind, IDP and IBRAC, with support from ABERT, will hold the Technological Convergence and Competition Seminar, on August 29th, starting at 8:45 am, at IDP. The event will feature big names such as João Henrique Caldas – President of the Parliamentary Front for Digital Economy and Citizenship, Abraão Balbino – Superintendent of Competition/ANATEL, Marcelo Bechara – Advisor to ABERT, Miriam Wimmer – Director of the Telecommunications Services Department of MCTIC, Laura Schertel - PhD in Law, Professor and author of the books "Privacy, Data Protection and Consumer Protection" and "The Protection of Personal Data in the Private Detor: Risks of Data Processing and the Guarantee of Substantial Consent", and other professionals who are references in the area.

The first panel of the event will feature in-depth discussions, based on dialogue between different views of regulatory authorities, public policy makers and private market agents.
In the second panel, the speakers will deal with the international context on the defense of competition in the digital economy and will debate their views on (i) the relevance of protecting personal data for competition law; (ii) CADE's focus when analyzing merger and acquisition operations involving companies that operate in the digital economy, (iii) how personal data can be used to allow companies that operate in the digital economy to abuse their dominant positions in certain relevant markets; as well as on (iv) cartel investigations involving new technologies.

The speakers will deal with practical issues that need to be in the radar not only of the authorities, but also from lawyers and economists who work in the area of ​​competition, regulation and data protection. The event is open to the public and it is possible to check the schedule and register at www.idp.edu.br/eventos .