The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has made 23 recommendations in its 623-page final report into anti-competitive behaviour and the market power of tech giants in Australia.
The ACCC stops short of calling for tech giant Google to be broken up but has recommended Australia’s Privacy Act be strengthened and an ombudsman scheme be launched to resolve complaints and disputes consumers and businesses may have with digital platforms.
“What this report finds is that so much personal data is being collected without informed consent.
“It’s an extremely serious issue and what we’ve seen play out in the US with Facebook being fined that record amount, over $7 billion, is a reflection of how peoples’ personal data is being used often without their knowledge.”
FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOU
Independent ombudsman: The new agency would investigate complaints about scams or advertising placed on digital platforms, order compensation to users as needed, and require the removal of copyright material used without consent.
ACCC digital platforms branch: This specialist arm of the ACCC would proactively investigate anti-competitive conduct by tech giants, including bias from their algorithms, enforce consumer and competition laws, and make recommendations to government to prevent ‘consumer harm’.
Changes to Privacy Act: Proposals include greater disclosure about what personal information will be collected by tech giants, clear rules about gaining consumers’ consent, the ability to have your information deleted, and higher penalties for privacy breaches.
Fake news code: Tech giants must create industry rules about how to respond to reports of fake news — or misinformation presented as news — that could lead to ‘serious public detriment’. The ACMA would also monitor misleading information on the platforms and make regulatory recommendations.
Android phone changes: Within six months, Google must let Android smartphone users choose the default search engine and internet browser on their device rather than setting it for them.
