Australia’s competition watchdog said on Monday new competition laws are needed in response to the rapid expansion of digital platforms. Amazon, Apple, Google, meta And Microsoft in country.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ,accc) in its latest report the Digital Platform Services Inquiry raises concerns that the expansion of these platforms increases the risk of them engaging in harmful behavior such as aggressive data collection and practices that lock out customers and limit their choices .
“Our proposed reforms include a call for targeted consumer protection and service-specific codes to prevent anti-competitive conduct by specifically designated digital platforms,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC did not make specific findings of anti-competitive conduct, but said that digital platforms with significant market power may use practices such as bundling of products, pre-installation and default settings to limit customer choice or stifle innovation among competitors. Can be used.
An Amazon spokesperson said, “We are still assessing the details of the report”, while Meta declined to comment. Apple, Google and Microsoft did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
In terms of data collection practices, the ACCC found that these providers have greater access to rich consumer data through extension, and that it is not always clear from relevant privacy policies whether the data collected is for device functionality or product improvement. Whether there is more than the required data or not.
The regulator has also proposed new mandatory obligations on all digital platforms to address scams, harmful apps, fake reviews, including notice and action requirements and stronger verification of business users and reviews.
The ACCC said competition laws must also address potential challenges posed by emerging technologies such as generic AI and virtual reality.
Earlier this year, the regulator announced plans to examine the country’s rapidly growing ecosystem of digital platform service providers as part of a five-year probe into the sector.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ,accc) in its latest report the Digital Platform Services Inquiry raises concerns that the expansion of these platforms increases the risk of them engaging in harmful behavior such as aggressive data collection and practices that lock out customers and limit their choices .
“Our proposed reforms include a call for targeted consumer protection and service-specific codes to prevent anti-competitive conduct by specifically designated digital platforms,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC did not make specific findings of anti-competitive conduct, but said that digital platforms with significant market power may use practices such as bundling of products, pre-installation and default settings to limit customer choice or stifle innovation among competitors. Can be used.
An Amazon spokesperson said, “We are still assessing the details of the report”, while Meta declined to comment. Apple, Google and Microsoft did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
In terms of data collection practices, the ACCC found that these providers have greater access to rich consumer data through extension, and that it is not always clear from relevant privacy policies whether the data collected is for device functionality or product improvement. Whether there is more than the required data or not.
The regulator has also proposed new mandatory obligations on all digital platforms to address scams, harmful apps, fake reviews, including notice and action requirements and stronger verification of business users and reviews.
The ACCC said competition laws must also address potential challenges posed by emerging technologies such as generic AI and virtual reality.
Earlier this year, the regulator announced plans to examine the country’s rapidly growing ecosystem of digital platform service providers as part of a five-year probe into the sector.