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.
Senior legal analyst Daniel Hanley and Europe director Max von Thun co-author an article warning that the monopolization of AI by a few powerful corporations threatens innovation and democracy, urging immediate action to regulate and democratize the technology for the public good.
A recap of some of our important pieces from this year's body of work on AI.
Europe director Max von Thon urges the EU’s next Competition Commissioner to take bold action against corporate monopolies, especially in digital markets, and to establish a clear vision for fostering fair competition and innovation.
In this issue, we look at the lessons of the U.S. presidential election, and some next steps. We also explore how the EU’s AI strategy might concentrate even more power in the hands of Big Tech.
Europe director Max von Thun criticizes the Labour Party's approach to the digital economy, arguing that instead of creating a robust plan to regulate and shape it, they appear to be aligning too closely with big tech monopolies, effectively granting these corporations more control and influence.
A report from Open Markets Institute and Mozilla lays out a roadmap for governments and regulators to take immediate steps to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) remains a competitive and innovative field, rather than being dominated by a few tech giants.
The Open Markets Institute and Mozilla published a comprehensive report titled "Stop Big Tech from Becoming Big AI: A Roadmap for Using Competition Policy to Keep Artificial Intelligence Open for All.”
Open Markets and civil society partners urge the European Commission to take decisive action against Google’s dominance in the digital advertising sector in order to restore balance and protect the news media and democracy.
In this issue, we explore how Intel’s recent woes suggest that Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act was insufficient and recommend how the next administration must go further in investing in semiconductor manufacturing to protect the country’s national interest.
As the EU's competition enforcer Margrethe Vestager prepares to step down, Max von Thun writes in the Financial Times that the incoming chief Teresa Ribera must take up the mantle to shape markets in the public interest.