Digital platforms under fire: What Australia can learn from recent developments in Europe

Abstract

There is a clear trend of a hardening attitude towards digital platforms. In Australia this trend is exemplified by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s current inquiry specifically into digital platforms. Further, it can also be seen in court decisions. Having discussed one such court decision, we give a brief overview of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s digital platforms inquiry. We then seek to bring attention to a selection of particularly relevant European developments that may usefully inform how Australia proceeds in this arena and that may be considered in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s final report due to be provided to the Treasurer on 3 June 2019.