The heads of the Digital Platform Regulators Forum have agreed to prioritise digital transparency, examining algorithms and their impact, and increased collaboration between agencies for 2022/23. 

Members from the ACCC, ACMA, eSafety, and the OAIC met on 28 June 2022 to discuss the forum’s strategic priorities, focusing on how to protect users from potential harm on digital platforms. 

“The ACCC considers that the work of the Digital Platform Regulators Forum is key for our own work on digital platforms, particularly as we are currently reviewing whether there is a need for competition and consumer reform as part of our ongoing digital platforms inquiry,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. 

One issue they will focus on is improving transparency on what digital platforms are doing to protect Australians from potential harm, such as the handling of consumer data and the impact of their activities to address misinformation. 

These transparency issues are particularly concerning given the power and information asymmetries between digital platforms and users. 

Along with measures that are already in place, the digital platform regulators aim to further address these transparency and accountability issues through the examination of existing terms and conditions, analysis of public reports, and potential additional regulatory or enforcement action undertaken by forum members where appropriate. 

“We look forward to working with our fellow regulators so that digital platforms’ response to public concerns around significant issues like disinformation is more transparent and effective,” ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said. 

The forum also decided to focus on examining the development and use of algorithms to look at its impact in a range of areas, including algorithmic recommendations and profiling, moderation algorithms, promotion of disinformation, harmful content, and product ranking and displays on digital platforms such as online marketplaces. 

All members also agreed to share information and work together to tackle issues across their traditional lines of responsibility, strengthening their existing relationships by growing collaboration, sharing information, and coordinating on matters relating to digital platforms regulation. 

“This important forum allows us to focus the combined domain expertise of all four regulators on issues that cut across our respective mandates,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said. 

“I’m looking forward to continuing our work together improving the experience of all Australians online, ensuring we remain at the vanguard of fair, balanced and innovative end-to-end digital regulation.” 

The forum’s collaboration for the next year intends to include joint engagement with stakeholders, submissions and advice to Government, and training and other capability-building programs to promote proportionate, cohesive, well-designed and efficiently implemented digital platform regulation. 

Yesterday’s meeting follows the Terms of Reference in March 2022 and continued work between the forum members over the last year. 

The forum also discussed work already undertaken on: 

• the development of codes of practice for digital platforms 
• shared data holdings and opportunities for improved information sharing 
• potential future engagement with international counterparts. 

“Personal information is central to data-driven businesses and its protection is critical to prevent online harms,” Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk said. 

“We will continue to work closely with other regulators through the forum to advance online privacy protections for Australians, protect individuals from harm in the online environment and ensure the best outcomes are achieved in the public interest.”  

Source: OAIC Media Release. Content has been edited for style and length.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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