The Commonwealth supports new laws aimed at regulating various operational aspects of digital platforms. 

The Federal Government has given “in principle” support to measures in response to recommendations made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over a year ago.

The ACCC's recommendations centred on enhancing consumer protections and addressing concerns related to dispute resolution and the prevention of scams and harmful app distribution on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and TikTok.

In a statement released by the Treasury, the government has pledged to further examine the implementation of the ACCC's suggestions, including soliciting public input on the creation of new legislation.

While expressing openness to considering broad consumer measures, the government said that regulating digital platforms could be encompassed within existing initiatives. 

The ACCC's proposal for “additional competition measures for digital platforms” and “targeted competition obligations” was acknowledged as warranting new laws.

Under this proposed regime, specific digital platforms could be subject to service-specific codes, which may involve imposing targeted obligations and prohibitions against anti-competitive conduct. 

This approach aims to address issues like self-preferencing products and services and other barriers to competition that affect consumer choice and bargaining power.