Digital competition – should the Australian confrontation of Big Tech serve as a role model for the EU?

Background Discussion

 

 

Large digital corporations like Google and Facebook play a powerful role in the media and advertising markets. On a global level, the Australian Consumer and Competition Authority (ACCC) is making headlines with a particularly confrontational course in dealing with Big Tech. To reduce the market power of large platforms, the ACCC has launched various consultations and proposals. One specific draft law would force Google to pay for showing links to news content. In response, Google is threatening to shut down its search engine in Australia.  

The EU is facing similar issues in the its negotiations in the context of the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. So far, it has opted for more moderate interventions compared to the ACCC. However, some observers express doubts on whether the EU’s approach will be enough to curb the market power of Big Tech.  

What are the experiences of the Australian confrontation course and which instruments could also inspire EU platform regulation? What effects would taking down the Google search engine have for journalism, advertisers, and consumers? We are delighted to welcome Rod Sims for an online background discussion on February 25, 2021 at 8am (CET) to discuss these questions and others. Rod is the Chairman of the ACCC and a central architect of the legislative and regulatory initiatives.

You can find a transcript of the event here.

With: 

Rod Sims, Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Aline Blankertz, Stiftung Neue Verantwortung

Date: 
02/25/2021 - 8:00am to 9:00am