Australia Floats Widespread Antitrust Reform To Take On Big Tech

Australia’s consumer watchdog wants major legislative changes spanning the entire gamut of Big Tech’s issues, covering anti-competitive conduct, bargaining imbalances, insufficient consumer and business user protections, reported Znet.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) proposed measures, outlined in a discussion paper, aimed at providing new tools to combat anti-competitive conduct, barriers to entry, bargaining imbalances, and insufficient consumer and business user protections. 

Outgoing ACCC chair Rod Sims said last week that core proposals would take the form of a new code of conduct, focusing on the creation of clear and upfront rules that seek to “prevent the worst abuses of dominance and protect consumers”.

In the discussion paper, the regulator said the new measures are needed as current tools provided under Australia’s consumer laws may not be sufficient alone for addressing harms identified within digital platforms.

Australia has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of Big Tech’s policies, with landmark actions against the internet giants that have served as precedent for other jurisdictions, including a major decision on the use of news content and advertising revenues.

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