ACCC Pushes for Stronger Digital Platform Regulation to Protect Australian Consumers and Businesses

Published: 23 June 2025

Based on an ACCC media release

Original Source

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has completed its landmark five-year Digital Platform Services Inquiry, calling for urgent reforms to Australia’s competition and consumer laws in the face of increasing harms in digital markets.

While digital platforms like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta have driven innovation and growth, the ACCC’s final report warns that Australia’s current legal framework is no longer sufficient to protect users or foster fair competition.

“These services have brought many benefits, but they’ve also created harms that our current laws can’t adequately address,” said ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb.

What the ACCC is Calling For

The report makes three key recommendations:

1. An economy-wide ban on unfair trading practices

2. An independent dispute resolution body for digital platforms

3. A new digital competition regime – to prevent dominant platforms from distorting or blocking competition

Why the Reforms Are Needed

The ACCC’s final report found persistent and widespread harms:

• 72% of Australians surveyed had experienced potentially unfair online practices, such as manipulative designs, hidden fees or accidental subscriptions.

• Small businesses face challenges when platforms remove or block access to their accounts, publish fake reviews, or impose sudden rule changes.

• Big tech platforms continue to engage in anti-competitive behaviours, such as:

  • Self-preferencing their own products in marketplaces and app stores

  • Locking users into ecosystems by impeding switching

  • Withholding access to data, software and hardware tools

  • Entering exclusive deals to sideline competitors

Emerging Tech: New Risks on the Horizon

The ACCC also raised red flags about emerging technologies:

• Cloud computing services are dominated by a few global players (Amazon, Microsoft, Google), who may bundle or tie products in ways that stifle competition.

• Generative AI models, which require immense cloud power to operate, may also be affected if access to infrastructure is controlled or prioritised by the same cloud providers.

“Harms to competition in the generative AI sector could hamper innovation… and force Australian businesses and consumers to pay more than they otherwise would,” said Ms Cass-Gottlieb.

What Happens Next?

The ACCC has now concluded its inquiry, but its recommendations add weight to the federal government’s consultation already underway into a proposed new digital competition regime.

This would likely include:

• Mandatory conduct codes for major platforms

• Clear rules around interoperability, access, data use and service tying

• Dispute resolution options for consumers and businesses alike

Internationally, similar laws have already been introduced in the EU, UK, Germany, and Japan.

What This Means for Australian Businesses

Digital platforms are an essential tool for doing business in Australia, but the power imbalance between platform giants and local users has created new legal and economic risks. For business owners, this means:

• Stronger consumer protections could reduce risks around digital advertising, fake reviews or exploitative service models

• A dedicated dispute resolution body could provide a low-cost path to challenge platform decisions, like account deactivations or ranking suppression

• Increased transparency and interoperability could open up more opportunities to innovate and switch providers

Final Word from Bane Legal Services

The ACCC’s final report on digital platform services underscores an urgent call for targeted, forward-looking regulation to balance innovation with fairness and accountability.

At Bane Legal Services, we understand how important digital platforms are to the operations of Australian businesses — especially small enterprises, franchise networks, and online service providers.

While we don’t offer legal advice, we can refer you to an Australian competition and technology lawyer if you:

• Need help responding to unfair platform treatment

• Want to review your digital contracts or terms of service

• Are concerned about platform compliance or data access issues

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Bane Legal Services is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. For legal assistance, we can connect you with a qualified Australian lawyer specialising in consumer and competition law.