Our People » Max von Thun
Max von Thun is the Director of Europe & Transatlantic Partnerships at the Open Markets Institute. He leads Open Markets’ research and advocacy in Europe alongside efforts to bring about greater alignment in transatlantic anti-monopoly policy and enforcement.
Von Thun’s work touches on a range of antitrust and competition issues in Europe, with a particular focus on technology and new legislative frameworks targeting Big Tech’s market power. Prior to joining Open Markets, von Thun advised UK Parliamentarians on economic policy, led the research program at think-tank the Centre for Entrepreneurs, and worked as a consultant on EU and UK technology and competition policy. He has written influential reports on a range of topics including AI regulation, the future of work, wealth taxation and small business policy. Von Thun’s writing has appeared in publications including the Guardian, the Times, Tech Policy Press and Euractiv. He is regularly quoted as an expert on European competition and technology issues in the media, including Politico, Reuters, Bloomberg, Wired and Time.
Von Thun holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and philosophy from the University of Southern California, and a master’s in international public policy from University College London. He originally hails from London, but these days calls Brussels home.
Open Markets welcomes the European Commission’s three market investigations on cloud computing services under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
In a statement from Max von Thun, Open Markets condemns Google’s insufficient remedies, proposed in the EU, regarding its conflicts of interests in the adtech stack.
The Open Markets Institute Europe submitted observations to the European Commission as part of its consultation on the review of the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”).
The Open Markets Institute and ARTICLE 19 hosted on October 15th & 16th a convening of high-level leading thinkers, lawmakers, technologists, and advocates who discussed the direct and growing threats to our democracies and basic liberties posed by today’s dominant online communications platforms, the rise of AI, and interference by foreign states.
CJL director Dr. Courtney Radsch and Europe director Max von Thun author a brief arguing that dominant U.S. platforms such as Google, Meta and X wield unprecedented power to manipulate political discourse, censor individuals and organizations, and shape the flow of information across Europe, the United States and beyond. At the same time, and in coordination with these corporations, the current U.S. administration has launched an “unprecedented assault” on Europe’s right to regulate these corporations in the public interest.
Max von Thun, Europe Director at the Open Markets Institute, co-authored a piece with fellow Claire Lavin urging the European Commission to revise its merger guidelines. They argue that competition policy must look beyond prices to safeguard innovation, security, and democracy—ensuring a stronger and more resilient European Union.
Open Markets Europe Director Max von Thun released a statement in response to the European Commission’s decision to fine Google €3 billion for abusing its dominance in the adtech market and ordering the internet giant to end its illegal conduct.
Open Markets Institute Europe submitted more than 20 pages of recommendations to the European Commission as part of its consultation on updating the EU’s Horizontal and Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines for the first time in nearly two decades.
Open Markets Institute joined over 50 civil society groups in urging the European Commission to stand firm against U.S. interference in the EU’s digital rulemaking.
Max von Thun applauds a new report on tech algorithms and misinformation from the UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.