Australia: Published 8th Interim Report of the ACCC Digital Platform Services Inquiry (March 2024)
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Published 8th Interim Report of the ACCC Digital Platform Services Inquiry (March 2024)
On 21 May 2024, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published the 8th Interim Report of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry as part of the ongoing Digital Platform Services Inquiry, which spans five years. This report focuses on data products and services provided by data brokers that don't typically engage directly with the consumers whose data they handle. It explores various data generation methods by consumers and businesses, analyses key categories of data products and services, and discusses potential consumer risks associated with data collection and usage. The report highlights that many consumers are unaware of the extent of data collected about them, and data policies are often complex for consumers to grasp. It also raises concerns about the potential misuse of data by malicious actors, posing risks to consumers. The report identifies competitive tensions between data firms and digital platforms offering online advertising services. It also acknowledges the challenge of balancing competition in data markets with improved outcomes for consumers. Additionally, it notes that data firms often compete through non-price factors such as product differentiation. Furthermore, the report specifies that many business customers rely on multiple data firms, either combining similar products or leveraging specialised knowledge across different industries or business functions.
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