Rarely does a single number carry as much policy significance as this one. When Indonesia announced a cap on commissions charged by ride-hailing platforms at around 8%, the issue went far beyond a few percentage points. It signaled that a government was proactively stepping into a space long considered “the domain of the market” and asking a fundamental question: who really decides how value is distributed in the digital economy? For years, ride-hailing and delivery platforms have been viewed as technology intermediaries. They connect supply and demand, optimize routes, and create a layer of digital infrastructure that reduces transaction costs. Under this view, the “commission” — or “service fee,” as platforms may call it — is simply an operating cost, a reasonable percentage needed to maintain the system. But the reality is far more complex. Platforms do not merely connect users; they also set prices: the amount customers pay, the income drivers receive, the structure of bonuses and penalties, and even the probability of being assigned a ride. When all of these factors are determined by algorithms, platforms have moved beyond the familiar concept of being mere “intermediaries.” They have become institutions that distribute income, where added value is redistributed […]