In an interview with Folha de S. Paulo, Gustavo Augusto discusses regulatory challenges, oversight of big tech, and the need to curb abuses without stifling innovation.
In an interview with Folha de S. Paulo published last week, the president of Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), Gustavo Augusto, underscored the importance of a technical, firm, and dialogue-driven approach to addressing competition challenges, particularly in digital markets.
According to Augusto, CADE maintains an open stance toward negotiation and the pursuit of consensual solutions, while retaining the full use of its legal powers to curb abuses of economic power and ensure fair competition.
He noted that the rapid expansion of digital platforms calls for institutional responses capable of guaranteeing competitive neutrality and legal certainty, while at the same time preserving innovation and market dynamism. In this context, he said legislative proposals currently under discussion in Congress could expand CADE’s mandate, including the adoption of general rules applicable to economic agents operating in the digital environment.
The CADE president also emphasized the authority’s effectiveness in negotiated outcomes, citing cease and desist agreements reached with technology companies that have helped correct conduct and promote competition. In 2025, CADE recorded a historic high in the number of settlements, reinforcing regulatory dialogue as a tool to enhance efficiency and predictability for the market.
Augusto further stressed that CADE’s enforcement is guided strictly by technical criteria, without discrimination based on companies’ origin, size, or nationality, and that the authority’s institutional mission is to prevent abuses of dominant market positions across all sectors of the economy.
Finally, addressing the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging market dynamics, he said CADE is closely monitoring these developments, relying on evidence-based analyses aligned with international best practices.
Source: Gov.br
