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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has called for new legislation to be put in place to stop scams and rein in anti-competitive behaviour online.
The ACCC’s fifth progress report on digital platforms since it began an inquiry in 2017 states that specific legislation is needed to deal with the unique issues the online space poses.
The ACCC’s recommendations call for stronger laws to prohibit misleading or deceptive conduct online and new powers for the ACCC to address anti-competitive behaviour by digital platforms. The report also recommends measures to improve transparency and accountability of digital media algorithms and a review of the safe harbour provisions that currently protect tech companies from being held liable for user-generated content.
The ACC chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said, “The critical positions that digital platforms hold, as ‘gatekeepers’ or ‘intermediaries’ between businesses and consumers, mean they have a broad influence across the economy, making the reforms we are recommending crucial and necessary for all Australians.”
“We also need more action on fake reviews from platforms whose services feature ratings and reviews, including those appearing on search, social media, app stores and online marketplaces,” she said.
“We are calling for service-specific codes of conduct that apply to designated digital platforms,” Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC has proposed mandatory codes of conduct for specific platforms, noting that developing just two or three significant players has led to various anti-competitive behaviours. These behaviours include online misleading or deceptive conduct and anti-competitive behaviour by digital platforms.
The ACCC calls for specific legislation to deal with the unique issues the online space poses to ensure that all Australians can benefit from a competitive and fair economy. This legislation would include stronger laws to prohibit misleading or deceptive online conduct and new powers for the ACCC to address anti-competitive behaviour by digital platforms.
Such legislation must be implemented to ensure that digital platforms are held accountable for their actions and that consumers can be confident in the accuracy of information provided online.
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