The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced a new inquiry into internet search services, aiming to investigate competition dynamics and potential consumer impacts in the digital sector. The inquiry underscores the importance of understanding and addressing issues related to search engine market dominance and its implications for businesses and consumers.
The ACCC’s inquiry into internet search services comes in the wake of growing concerns about the market power wielded by major search engines, particularly Google, and their impact on competition, innovation, and consumer choice. The inquiry seeks to gather comprehensive data and insights to assess the competitive landscape, market dynamics, and the effects of search engine practices on businesses and consumers.
Key areas of focus for the inquiry include:
- Market concentration – the ACCC aims to analyse the level of market concentration in the internet search sector, including the dominance of major search engines and their control over search-related advertising revenue
- Impact on competition – the inquiry will examine how search engine practices, algorithms, and ranking methodologies may affect competition among businesses, particularly in digital advertising and online markets
- Consumer choice and privacy – consumer welfare is a central concern of the inquiry, with a focus on understanding how search engine practices may influence consumer choice, data privacy, and the overall user experience
- Transparency and accountability – the ACCC seeks to promote transparency and accountability in the internet search sector, ensuring that search engine operators adhere to fair and transparent practices that benefit both businesses and consumers.
For a full reading of the media release, see here.
