In some industries and markets, a small number of firms have exclusive access to particular datasets, and they exploit their market power to limit access to that data through both technical and administrative means without any legitimate business justification. In the real estate, financial services, and air travel industries, for example, established firms are using their exclusive control of information about property listings, customer financial transactions, and airline tickets, respectively, to limit competition by restricting access to the data by third-parties. This type of anti-competitive behavior limits innovation, reduces market transparency, and hurts consumers, and when these problematic practices occur, policymakers should intervene.
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