This seminar seeks to foster critical discussion among scholars, practitioners and regulatory experts on the legal and institutional frameworks governing digital markets, with the aim of gaining insights from Norway. Speakers from Ukraine will address the challenges of war for the data-driven economy and the impact of data protection and competition law. This will be followed by a round of reflections from a Norwegian perspective.

PROGRAMME

War and the Data-Driven Economy: Challenges and Solutions

Dr. Liudmyla Petrenko

• Professor, Department of Business Economics and Entrepreneurship, Kyiv National Economic University after Vadym Hetman (KNEU); Visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (Munich, Germany), 2022-2025

The presentation examines how Ukrainian digital platforms have strategically leveraged user data, regulatory frameworks, and innovative governance models to drive business growth and resilience in wartime conditions. Drawing on recent trends: The e-commerce market rose to nearly $4 billion in 2024, marking a ~30% YoY increase, driven by digital payments, mobile commerce, and omnichannel approaches. The IT and fintech sector, contributing almost 5% to GDP, reached $8 billion in revenue in 2023, underscoring the sector’s economic significance. The analysis emphasizes how digital technologies facilitated economic continuity, enabling remote work, sustaining export revenues, and supporting domestic consumption through innovative online platforms. Additionally, it addresses significant challenges, such as infrastructure damage, human capital loss, and cybersecurity threats, detailing Ukraine’s adaptive strategies including cloud migration, international collaboration, and enhanced digital governance. The study concludes by reflecting on how the crisis has accelerated digital transformation, creating lasting structural changes and global integration opportunities vital for Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery.

Data Protection and Competition Law: Cross-Regulatory Solutions for Ukraine

Dr. Nataliia Mazaraki

• Chair of the International, civil and commercial law department, State University of Trade and Economics, Visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (Munich, Germany), 2022-2025

The analysis identifies opportunities for cross-regulatory cooperation between Ukraine’s competition authority and data protection agencies, suggesting integrated regulatory approaches to effectively manage digital market power and safeguard personal data—essential components of Ukraine’s digital transformation and European integration. The research highlights cases and key regulatory trends in Ukrainian digital markets and data governance: (1) BlaBlaCar antitrust case (2025) – the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) fined the local operator approximately ₴424,000 for failing to provide requested competition information, marking the first enforcement action in the online P2P mobility sector and signaling broader scrutiny of digital platforms; (2) Kyiv Digital vs. MIA platform bias (2025) – AMCU issued formal recommendations to prevent state-led favoritism toward the MIA’s driving simulator app over private competitors, reinforcing the application of competition rules to government-backed platforms. Legal and market trends illustrate a dynamic shift, as Ukraine’s legal system actively shapes the governance of digital platforms by embedding competition and data protection principles into its digital economy framework: (а) Expanding AMCU enforcement – In 2024, the AMCU handled 312 information-related cases in digital markets, signaling a shift from traditional cartel oversight toward platform-centric regulation; (b) GDPR-aligned reforms – Draft Law № 8153 (2022) introduces new rights, breach notification requirements, and expanded definitions, deepening alignment with EU standards; (с) Digital public law innovation – Ukraine enacted laws on electronic documents and e-justice, supported by the Diia platform, enabling paperless courts and digital state services even during wartime; (d) Platform strategy meets legal control – Both state and private platforms are increasingly integrating AI-driven operations, privacy-by-design principles, and anti-bias compliance measures in response to AMCU enforcement and GDPR-style regulations.

Short comment from the NorwegianCompetition Authority (Konkurransetilsynet)

Round table discussion

• Moderated by Liliia Oprysk

Date: 21 August 2025

Time: 10.00-12.00

Venue: Library at the Faculty of Law, University of Bergen

Registration HERE

The seminar will not be streamed