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ACCC recommends significant reforms targeting digital platforms

ACCC recommends significant reforms targeting digital platforms

The ACCC's Interim Report 5 in the Digital Platform Services Inquiry (the DPSI) recommends to Treasury a number of reforms to competition and consumer laws which it considers are not currently sufficient to address harms it has identified since 2017. These include scams, harmful apps and fake reviews, inadequate dispute resolution, increased market concentration and instances of anti-competitive conduct. 

If its recommendations are implemented, this could significantly change the current status quo. The following pages outline the proposed reforms and potential implications.

Proposed reforms

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Competition law reform: Mandatory sector-specific codes for 'designated' digital platforms with targeted obligations. Read more.

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Advocating for economy-wide unfair practice prohibition. Read more.

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Consumer law reform: Mandatory processes for scams, harmful apps and fake news. Read more.

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Consumer law reform: Mandatory internal dispute resolution processes & external ombuds scheme. Read more.

How did we get here?

Competition and consumer issues identified by the ACCC

After its groundbreaking digital platform report in 2017 and five years of further deep dives into the digital sector, the ACCC has recommended significant law reforms to address competition and consumer law concerns it has observed in its inquiries.

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A timeline

This latest publication by the ACCC represents the penultimate interim report in what will ultimately be an eight-year process by the regulator to review the impact of digital platforms on competition, businesses and consumers.

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