ACCC head warns Facebook and Google over merger activities ahead of final Digital Platforms report
Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, has flagged closer global scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions by digital platforms as one of the key recommendations of its digital platforms review due to be handed down next month.
The ACCC head said Facebook’s US$1bn acquisition of Instagram in 2012 was an example of how global digital platforms shut down threats to their market dominance by buying disruptive competitors.
ACCC chair, Rod Sims, speaking at a Sydney media conference in late 2018
“There is a growing debate, both in Australia and overseas, as to whether the process of competition for the market is adequately protected by the forward-looking substantial lessening of competition test applied to mergers,” Sims said.
Do any major company funded platforms in Australia use the Google Technology stack? That would mean that government money is being used to fund parts of Google right? Sounds like a situation that could require attention…