The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that in the race to embrace digital innovation, Canadian businesses risk sacrificing their strategic autonomy to the influence of major tech platforms. Guest columnist Andreas Schotter writes that his research suggests a troubling paradox at the heart of the digital economy: The very platforms that promise growth and efficiency may be stifling the long-term competitiveness of the firms that depend on them. As Canadian entrepreneurs increasingly rely on platforms such as Apple's App Store or Amazon Marketplace, they gain access to vast customer bases and cutting-edge technologies. However, this digital opportunity comes with significant constraints. "I would describe these constraints as a 'Faustian bargain,' where businesses trade long-term control over their strategic direction for the potential of rapid scaling in the short term." Mr. Schotter writes that this is not merely an academic concern. The European Union's recent antitrust investigation into Apple's App Store practices highlights the real-world consequences of platform dominance. Innovation and fair competition are at risk when a tech giant can dictate terms to its ecosystem of developers and merchants.