South Africa represents an actively developing digital services market that ranks among first in Africa. The local market attracts major international companies that endangers local suppliers threaten with prospects of loosing competitive market power and overall monopolization of the segment. Loose of competitive power  by local suppliers threatens the country’s data sovereignty and users data safety. Digital platform services suppliers’ regulation issues are among the most demanded research topics that is especially important for the BRICS bringing together digital growth leaders from the countries of global majority.
The article presents results of South Africa’s digital platform services regulation framework analysis. The paper relies upon the author’s personal attempt to examine the country’s existing regulatory framework as well as upon reports presented by competent international expert groups and the national regulator. The analysis indicates existence of systemic constrains referring to institutional arrangements within the digital platform services provision regulatory framework along with imperfection of the local legislation. The author claims that South Africa’s experience in promotion of the local businesses might be of interest for the competent governmental bodies of Russia. For South Africa deepening of cooperation within the BRICS is one of the top priorities as its realization would provide firm ground for implementation of the country’s development goals.

The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research program.

This article was submitted08.04.2024