Digital Platform Regulators Forum 2024 communique

Published 25 July 2024

Digital Platform Regulators Forum publishes yearly wrap up and strategic priorities to build capacity, promote regulatory coherence and respond to emerging risks and opportunities

The four members of the Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) met on 19 July 2024 to reflect on its activities over 2023–24 and agree to collective goals and strategic priorities.

DP-REG comprises the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The meeting was attended by:

• Gina Cass-Gottlieb (Chair, ACCC)
• Creina Chapman (Acting Chair, ACMA)
• Julie Inman Grant (eSafety Commissioner, eSafety)
• Carly Kind (Australian Privacy Commissioner, OAIC)

Overarching goals and strategic priorities for 2024–25

As digital platform technologies are further integrated into how we live and work, we have observed increased calls for clarity regarding how regulatory regimes apply and how industry can navigate multiple competing regimes. Since its inception, DP-REG has progressed collaboration and coordination between regulators given the need for complementary expertise to address challenges in regulating digital platforms. To reflect and emphasise this approach, DP-REG members have agreed to the following goals that guide the purpose, direction and objectives of DP‑REG:

These goals have been incorporated into DP-REG’s updated terms of reference.

DP-REG members have agreed on strategic priorities for 2024–26 to progress these goals with a view towards ensuring that Australia’s digital economy is a safe, trusted, fair, innovative and competitive space.

To build capacity across 2024–26, DP-REG members will:

• Increase members’ digital platforms regulatory capability: DP-REG members will share information and progress joint work to increase their capability.
• Increase information/intelligence sharing capability: DP-REG members will collaborate to improve information sharing systems and authorising environments.

To promote regulatory coherence across 2024–26, DP-REG members will:

• Collaborate on regulatory development: DP-REG members will collaborate bilaterally and multilaterally to promote regulatory coherence and clarity.

To respond to emerging risks and opportunities across 2024–26, DP-REG members will progress:

• Proactive engagement: DP-REG members will engage in activities to educate and present to industry and government as a forum.
• Understanding, assessing and responding to the benefits, risks and harms of technology, including AI models: DP-REG members will continue work to understand, assess and respond to the implications of technology.

Yearly wrap up provides transparency into DP-REG activities

Over the 2023–24 period, DP-REG has produced working papers into emerging technologies and digital platform issues, contributed submissions to government consultation processes and engaged with a range of stakeholders on issues of mutual concern or interest. The forum also launched the DP-REG website, where stakeholders and the public can access DP-REG publications, including working papers, joint DP-REG submissions and communiques. DP-REG has continued to mature as a forum and has enhanced the capacity and expertise of each participating regulator.

Today DP-REG releases its yearly wrap up for 2023–24, which summarises the work carried out by DP-REG over the past financial year.

“In a year which has seen an unprecedented uptake in the use of artificial intelligence tools, the ACCC has been closely considering interactions between AI services and competition and consumer regulation. This technology has serious implications for our work; from potentially generating misleading advertising, scams, and fake reviews, to enabling the possible use of AI to engage in anti-competitive conduct. The ACCC is clear on the need to ensure healthy competition in markets affected by AI. By working with our partners in DP‑REG, the ACCC is helping to shape how Australia can tackle both the risks and opportunities in a safe and responsible way amid a shifting digital landscape,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Over the last 12 months DP-REG has made important contributions to public discourse about evolving developments in digital technologies and services. We look forward to working together over the next year to further promote coordinated and effective regulatory responses to the impact of digital platforms on the Australian community,” Acting ACMA Chair Creina Chapman said.

“The Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) has established itself as a critical mechanism for achieving regulatory consistency, clarity and collaboration as technologies continue to evolve. By enhancing our capacity, promoting regulatory coherence, and addressing emerging risks, we aim to encourage a digital environment that is innovative, safe, and fair for all Australians,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.

“Just as a joined-up approach by regulators delivers efficiency and effectiveness for the regulated community, the same approach is vital in sharing information and expertise through DP-REG members to prepare for the emerging issues of tomorrow,” Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said.

This communique is jointly released by the ACCC, ACMA, eSafety and OAIC.