The influence of digital platforms in Australia has remained at the forefront of the minds of regulators, following the passing of the controversial encryption bill in Parliament late last week.
On Monday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its preliminary report into Google, Facebook and Australian news and advertising, highlighting the broader impacts of digital platforms.
Containing 11 recommendations aimed at reducing the alleged market power of both Facebook and Google, the report stated that although these businesses perform a critical role, the ‘operation of these platforms’ key algorithms determining the order in which content appears is not at all clear’.
The ACCC recommends the establishment of a new regulatory body to monitor the reach of these companies, especially in regard to discriminatory conduct, the monetisation of content and the privacy of user data.
The report noted that ‘the regulatory authority could have the power to investigate complaints, initiate its own investigations, make referrals to other government agencies and to publish reports and make recommendations’.
In what has been a high-profile year for both tech companies as user privacy is increasingly scrutinised, Facebook and Google are expected to push hard against new regulations.
‘We work closely with advertisers and publishers across Australia. We will continue to engage with the ACCC between now and the final report next year’, said Google in a press release.
The final report is expected in June 2019, likely to be after the next federal election.
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