ACCC chief Rod Sims sees his digital platforms inquiry as the first real holistic look at the impact of the digital platforms from a consumer and competition perspective. The recommendations back his claim.
Europe and the US have looked at the issue from privacy or other perspectives, without trying to tie the issues into one bundle.’
The final report thankfully rejects the notion of a new digital regulator. Instead, there will be a new division of the ACCC looking at platforms, from an enforcement angle, with regard to consumer and competition breaches.
This division will run its own experiments, evaluating the platforms’ algorithms and continually testing Google and Facebook on what they are doing any why.
It will also release regular reports, stating where the industry is up to, and of course make recommendations to government.
Sims confirmed he has on the go five separate investigations into both Google and Facebook for potential breaches of competition and consumer law.
He has also recommended a new law covering “unfair practices” which significantly broadens consumer protection along the lines of the law already in place in other jurisdictions.
This will cover the platforms infamous privacy agreements, which some regard as unfair in the extreme.
Media watchdog ACMA, meanwhile, will be given the responsibility of monitoring a bargaining code aimed at balancing the bargaining power of traditional media and the digital platforms.
The report also recommends creating harmonised laws governing advertising in both traditional media and the platforms, such that the digital platforms are covered by the same regulations.
It recommends a strengthening of privacy laws.
A new copyright code will also be established to bring the digital platforms into the net.
The report also recommends the establishment of a $50 million annual grant to support regional journalism to ensure a variety of voices in the bush.
The ACCC also recommends the creation of an ombudsman scheme to cover consumer and business issues and with the power to work towards resolving them.
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