June 1, 2025Welcome to Letters from CAMP, a newsletter on anti-monopoly activity in Canada and abroad, brought to you by the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project. In this installment we have:
Now let’s dive in.
Platforms vs Democracy: CAMP Weighs In on Europe’s Democracy ShieldThe C in CAMP is there for a reason. Canada has its own monopoly problems and cannot depend on others to solve them. But many of these problems are shared by countries around the world, especially when it comes to the global power of Big Tech. This week, CAMP submitted comments to the European Commission’s (EC) consultation on its European Democracy Shield initiative. The initiative is a welcome effort to bolster democratic resilience in the face of unprecedented geopolitical instability and global concentrations of economic and political power. In its submission, CAMP calls for bold, structural reforms to rein in the monopoly platforms that shape our information and democratic discourse. It emphasizes that incremental tweaks won’t suffice – what’s needed are strong antitrust measures (up to and including break-ups of dominant firms) and new forms of democratic oversight of tech giants. The submission also stresses the need for greater cooperation and collaboration between dependable allies amid rising threats to the sovereignty of individual nations. CAMP praises Europe’s recent steps, from aggressive enforcement to landmark laws like the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, and urges EU officials to maintain their leadership in challenging Big Tech power. Only by dismantling Big Tech’s dominance and establishing robust public oversight can we rebuild an online infrastructure that serves rather than undermines democracy. CAMP’s message to Brussels is the same as our message to Ottawa: we must curb platform monopolies to safeguard both our economy and our democracy. Loophole Allows Corporate Chains to Own Ontario PharmaciesWho owns your local pharmacy? In Ontario, chances are it’s part of a corporate chain despite provincial rules meant to keep pharmacies in the hands of licensed pharmacists. The Globe and Mail reports that to open a pharmacy in Ontario, you either must be a pharmacist, or have about $2 million on hand to exploit a loophole. The loophole dates back to 1954, when Ontario passed a law requiring pharmacies to be majority-owned by pharmacists. However, any corporation already operating a pharmacy on May 14, 1954 was grandfathered in under the law. This exemption created a small club of legacy pharmacy companies and, unintentionally, a gray market for their licenses. Today, investors can buy one of these pre-1954 pharmacy charters, at prices now north of $2 million, to acquire the legal authority to own pharmacies without being pharmacists. Critics, which include many pharmacists, are calling for reforms to close this loophole. The current situation, they argue, defeats the spirit of the law and puts business interests ahead of patients. Keeping the loophole open means allowing Ontario’s pharmacy market to further consolidate in corporate hands. To maintain trust in pharmacy services, Ontario must finally shut the door on this 71-year-old loophole. 📚 What We’re Reading 📚
Irish Privacy Watchdog Takes Aim at Microsoft’s Ad MachineIn a first-of-its-kind move for Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is applying to the High Court to launch a class action lawsuit against Microsoft’s online advertising business. The case targets Microsoft’s use of “Real-Time Bidding” (RTB), the behind-the-scenes auction system that matches ads to individuals by broadcasting their personal data to countless advertisers. ICCL alleges this system amounts to a massive, ongoing data breach, violating EU data protection law. Longtime privacy and anti-monopoly crusader Dr. Johnny Ryan, who leads ICCL’s Enforce project, explains that very sensitive personal data, individuals’ relationships, health, finances, even whether someone works in a national security role, are routinely broadcast into what he calls a “black hole” of ad targeting. Ryan likens the system to an ongoing “huge data breach” exposing millions of people’s private details. ICCL’s challenge spotlights the wider risks of data monopolies and surveillance-driven advertising. A handful of tech firms have unparalleled access to personal data and influence over what information people see. This concentration of data creates barriers to competition while eroding consumer privacy and democratic values. CAMP applauds ICCL’s landmark effort to put a stop to this practice. If you have any monopoly tips or stories you’d like to share, drop us a line at hello@antimonopoly.ca
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