Thursday, December 7, 2017

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Is About to Probe Google And Facebook (FB; GOOG)

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

ACCC to probe Facebook, Google over Media Disruption
Facebook, Google and other technology giants' role in spreading fake news stories and diverting advertising away from traditional media will be put under the microscope after the government directed the competition regulator to undertake an inquiry into digital platforms.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had been asked to scrutinise major digital platforms and their impacts on media, journalism and advertising, ACCC chairman Rod Sims said on Monday.

This will include digital search engines, social media platforms and digital content aggregators.

Because the inquiry has been formally directed by the government, rather than self-initiated, the regulator has the ability to use compulsory information-gathering powers and hold hearings....MUCH MORE
And from the Commission: 
ACCC commences inquiry into digital platforms