In addition to the major Digital Platforms Inquiry underway by The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's (ACCC), five separate investigations looking at the issue of misuse of market power by Google and Facebook are underway.
Speaking at a press conference on the inquiry’s preliminary findings, which look at Google, Facebook and the Australian news and advertising sector, ACCC chair Rod Sims confirmed that separate courses of action were being taken.
The five investigations underway have arisen directly from the report.
“Some of them are allegations could sit under competition law which could go to issues relating to misuse of market power and some of them relate to consumer law,” Sims said.
“Certainly out of this inquiry there are issues where there is potential for breaches and we will be investigating those as quickly as we can.
“Five investigations is quite a lot particularly when they involve issues as complex as this.”
Sims’s comments follow the release of eagerly awaited preliminary report. The report looks at concerns regarding the market power held by these major platforms, including their impact on Australian businesses.
In particular, it looks at the ability of media businesses to monetise their content and the extent to which consumers’ data is collected and used to target advertising.
A total of 11 preliminary recommendations and nine areas for further analysis have been highlighted as the inquiry continues.
Want more? See:
Details emerge of ACCC's crackdown on tech giants
Digital Platforms Inquiry: Top 20 must knows
ACCC inquiry: Here's what media groups submitted to digital platforms inquiry
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.