New Laws Proposed to Regulate Tech Giants and Protect Consumer Rights

A Senate committee has put forth recommendations for tougher regulations on tech giants.

The committee expressed concerns over the market dominance of these powerful companies and their anti-competitive practices.

Existing regulators have been unable to address these issues effectively, leaving significant regulatory gaps.

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, the committee chair, emphasised the need to strike a balance in regulating big tech to protect Australians.

With so many individuals interacting with these platforms daily, regulations must align with the concentration and influence of the market.

One of the key recommendations is the creation of a standalone watchdog to coordinate efforts between existing regulators and provide a central place for consumers and digital platforms to seek assistance.

The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has indicated the federal government's agreement in principle to amend privacy laws, granting Australians the right to be forgotten online.

Users would be able to demand that digital platforms delete their personal data, giving them more control over their online presence.

The report also calls for measures to level the playing field for smaller tech companies, including laws and mandatory reporting to address preferential treatment of their own content over competitors'.

These proposed regulations aim to rein in big tech and protect the rights of individuals while fostering a fairer and more competitive digital landscape.

- CyberBeat