Notice of Inquiry into digital platforms
On 4 December 2017 the Treasurer, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, issued a notice requiring the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to hold an Inquiry into the impact of digital search engines, social media platforms and other digital content aggregation platforms on the state of competition in media and advertising services markets, in particular in relation to the supply of news and journalistic content, and the implications of this for media content creators, advertisers and consumers. The Inquiry is pursuant to subsection 95H(1) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
The Inquiry will examine:
- The extent to which platform service providers are exercising market power in commerical dealings with the creators of journalist content and advertisers;
- The impact of platform service providers on the level of choice and quality of news and journalistic content to consumers;
- The impact of platform service providers on media and advertising markets;
- The impact of longer-term trends, including innovation and technological change, on competition in media and advertising markets; and
- The impact of information asymmetry between platform service providers, advertisers and consumers and effect on competition in media and advertising markets.
Conduct of the Inquiry
The Inquiry commenced on 4 December 2017.
The ACCC must submit a final report to the Treasurer at the conclusion of the Inquiry.
This is not an Inquiry in relation to supply by any particular person or persons.
The ACCC can hold public hearings for the purposes of the Inquiry. The times and locations of any hearings will be determined and published on the ACCC’s website at a later date.
Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the ACCC’s website (https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/inquiries/digital-platforms-inquiry).