Australia watchdog prepares for clampdown on ‘opaque’ internet giants like Google and Facebook

Watchdog has raised alarm about ‘substantial’ market power wielded by big technology companies and the ‘impact of digital platforms on society’

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App icons on a phone screen. File photo: EPA

Published: 3:06pm, 23 Jun 2019Updated: 1:12pm, 24 Jun 2019

Australia’s competition watchdog is poised to call for far-reaching new regulations on Facebook, Google and other tech giants, which could have global ramifications for how they make money and choose the content people consume.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recommendations, if confirmed, would be among the strongest yet in a drive to rein in the power of digital behemoths amid a host of worldwide concerns including antitrust issues, privacy abuse and their role in spreading disinformation and hateful content.

A receptionist at Google’s office in New York. File photo: AP

Following an 18-month inquiry into the power of digital platforms, the ACCC is due to issue its final report by June 30.

It is expected to include proposals for sweeping controls over the way tech companies handle personal data and use of “opaque” algorithms to rank advertisements, search results and content.

In a 328-page preliminary report issued in December, the ACCC raised alarm over the “substantial” market power wielded by the likes of Google and Facebook and the “lack of transparency” in their operations.