{"id":641690,"date":"2023-04-26T10:05:41","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T15:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/26\/uk-government-introduces-digital-markets-bill-to-parliament\/"},"modified":"2023-04-26T10:05:41","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T15:05:41","slug":"uk-government-introduces-digital-markets-bill-to-parliament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/26\/uk-government-introduces-digital-markets-bill-to-parliament\/","title":{"rendered":"UK government introduces Digital Markets Bill to Parliament"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will seek to level the playing field in digital markets by empowering regulators with new tools and powers to directly enforce competition and consumer protection laws<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"Sebastian Klovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton\">Sebastian Klovig Skelton,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Senior reporter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>26 Apr 2023 12:00<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>The UK government has published a draft of its <a href=\"https:\/\/publications.parliament.uk\/pa\/bills\/cbill\/58-03\/0294\/220294.pdf\">Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill<\/a> (DMCCB), which aims to establish a new regulator to challenge the growing dominance of big tech firms.<\/p>\n<p>The Bill will place the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) \u2013 a new division of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252493327\/CMA-sets-out-plan-to-regulate-technology-giants\">first announced in December 2020<\/a> \u2013 on a statutory footing, and give it powers to challenge \u201cexcessive dominance\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>This includes allowing the DMU to set tailored rules for how firms with \u201cstrategic market status\u201d behave and operate, as well as carry out \u201ctargeted interventions\u201d to help open up paths for startups and other smaller firms that have previously struggled to compete in key digital markets.<\/p>\n<p>As an example, the government said the DMU may instruct the biggest tech firms to provide more choice and transparency for their users, which could include ordering them to break down any restrictive technical barriers they have put up to prevent people from using different devices and systems.<\/p>\n<p>The DMU could also instruct firms to open up their data to rival search engines, or increase the transparency of how their app store or marketplace review systems work. In May 2022, then digital minister Chris Philp confirmed this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252518173\/Pro-competition-data-sharing-will-not-include-users-personal-info-says-minister\">pro-competition data sharing will not include users\u2019 personal information<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If firms do not abide by the DMU\u2019s rules, it will also have the power to fine them up to 10% of their global turnover.<\/p>\n<p>However, the DMU\u2019s role is limited to policing those firms with strategic market status, which is defined as any tech company that generates at least \u00a325bn in global turnover, or \u00a31bn in the UK.<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Codes of conduct\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Codes of conduct<\/h3>\n<p>All of these measures will come into effect as soon as possible, following parliamentary approval and subject to the publication of guidance. At the request of the government, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252498970\/Digital-Markets-Unit-starts-work-on-codes-of-conduct-for-tech-giants\">DMU started pre-emptively drafting legally binding codes of conduct<\/a> to prevent anti-competitive behaviour in digital markets in April 2021.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday\u2019s announcement shows we are proudly pro-growth and pro-innovation across the board in the tech sector, seeking to open up new opportunities for all firms, however small or large they are, while empowering consumers,\u201d said Paul Scully, minister for tech and the digital economy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Prime Minister has made his intention to secure growth and innovation within every corner of our economy very clear \u2013 the new Digital Markets Unit will help fulfil this important priority for the UK in the digital economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Under the DMCCB, the CMA itself will also receive new powers and tools so it can investigate competition problems and take action faster.<\/p>\n<p>This includes allowing it to enforce consumer law directly rather than have it go through lengthy court processes, as well as reward compensation to consumers or issue financial penalties for non-compliance with either the law or notices from the CMA, which could also reach up to 10% of their global turnover.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Reactions to the Bill\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Reactions to the Bill<\/h3>\n<p>CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell welcomed the Bill and the powers it granted to the competition regulator. \u201cThis has the potential to be a watershed moment in the way we protect consumers in the UK and the way we ensure digital markets work for the UK economy, supporting economic growth, investment and innovation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDigital markets offer huge benefits, but only if competition enables businesses of all shapes and sizes the opportunity to succeed,\u201d said Cardell. \u201cThis Bill is a legal framework fit for the digital age. It will establish a tailored, evidenced-based and proportionate approach to regulating the largest and most powerful digital firms to ensure effective competition that benefits everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She added that the CMA will support the Bill through the legislative process, and that it stands ready to use these powers once it has been approved by Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>Baroness Stowell, chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252459123\/Lords-call-for-new-Digital-Authority-to-oversee-regulation-of-online-services\">which called for the creation of a new digital regulator<\/a> like the DMU in March 2019, said the Bill is about ensuring a level playing field in digital markets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been calling for this legislation for a long time because the concentration of power amongst a small number of big tech firms isn\u2019t good for British business,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe UK\u2019s approach is considered more flexible than that of the EU and others, who are ahead of us in regulating this space. It is good news that the Bill has now arrived and we can get on with scrutinising it in detail. My committee will be holding a series of public evidence sessions in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alex Haffner, a partner and competition lawyer at law firm Fladgate, said if the Bill becomes law, it will \u201cup the ante significantly\u201d by requiring large tech firms to actively demonstrate to the CMA how they are complying with the new competition rules. \u201cTo that extent, it marks a major shift in the way in which the UK government makes good on its promise to create the conditions for tech companies of all shapes and sizes to innovate and grow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Neil Ross, associate director for policy at TechUK, said the Bill is a \u201cvital piece of legislation\u201d, and welcomed the placement of the DMU on a statutory footing. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, it is imperative the legislation provides a clear mandate for the DMU to engage with a wide range of companies and consumers, and set out clearly how the regime will operate in practice,\u201d he said. \u201cAdditionally, the Bill must include robust checks and balances, including supporting an appeals process that enables quick resolutions to disputes while allowing the full facts of a case to be taken into account for the most significant regulatory decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rick VanMeter, executive director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/365534673\/Developers-say-Apple-and-Google-are-running-app-store-monopolies\">Coalition for App Fairness<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 an independent non-profit set up in September 2020 to challenge the \u201cmonopolistic control\u201d of tech giants over the app ecosystem \u2013 said the introduction of the Bill is a \u201csignificant step forward\u201d in creating a fair and open mobile apps ecosystem in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>He further claimed that tech giants have been using their \u201cexcessive dominance and unchecked power over mobile devices to stifle competition, slow innovation and impose high fees\u201d on both developers and consumers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis legislation will enable the Digital Markets Unit to\u00a0enact the CMA\u2019s recommendations from its 2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__assets.publishing.service.gov.uk_government_uploads_system_uploads_attachment-5Fdata_file_1138104_Mobile-5FEcosystems-5FFinal-5FReport-5Famended-5F2.pdf&#038;d=DwMFAg&#038;c=tEbGsWWjqkBSpaWdXc_mdMSanI1bDu-FKXiKGCfVmPM&#038;r=atMzlI6A1YTnVEtSxwA1GvE7llqnhd3KufexxtLFVMU&#038;m=Y1T8_DEjp1Aw_6zxWee_JdNo8J4ogOMYdEbIw1ZNiBW8YyboS9k3cTHzhcOUBgj_&#038;s=UaG6kX5X0Q-83YKDxZpe208WRiRPbZ_sitHUTrSE04M&#038;e=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a>, including opening mobile app stores to competition in app distribution and in-app payments,\u201d said VanMeter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn empowered DMU will level the playing field for UK businesses and developers, ending the entrenched market power of mobile app monopolists and boosting the international growth of UK-born businesses,\u201d he said. \u201cAs the Bill advances through the legislative process, we look forward to working with policymakers and regulators in the UK to ensure the DMU can effectively protect consumers and promote competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on Technology startups<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/365534827\/Government-launches-Smart-Data-Council-to-lower-utility-bills\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/London-Westminster-Houses-of-Parliament-exflow-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/London-Westminster-Houses-of-Parliament-exflow-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/London-Westminster-Houses-of-Parliament-exflow-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Government launches Smart Data Council to lower utility bills<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/lis pic.jpeg\" alt=\"LisEvenstad\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Lis\u00a0Evenstad<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252526172\/CMA-issues-proposals-to-prevent-overcharging-emergency-services-for-Airwave-network\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/NHS-ambulance-emergency-health-Chalabala-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/NHS-ambulance-emergency-health-Chalabala-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/NHS-ambulance-emergency-health-Chalabala-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>CMA issues proposals to prevent emergency services being overcharged for Airwave network<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Joe-OHalloran-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"JoeO\u2019Halloran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Joe\u00a0O\u2019Halloran<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252521939\/Ministers-and-MPs-outline-vision-for-digital-economy\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/technology-digital-ai-robot-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/technology-digital-ai-robot-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/technology-digital-ai-robot-adobe.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Ministers and MPs outline vision for digital economy<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252518173\/Pro-competition-data-sharing-will-not-include-users-personal-info-says-minister\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/LeMagIT\/hero_article\/Echange_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/LeMagIT\/hero_article\/Echange_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/LeMagIT\/hero_article\/Echange.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Pro-competition data sharing will not include users\u2019 personal info, says minister<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/365535776\/UK-government-introduces-Digital-Markets-Bill-to-Parliament\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Margarete Volkman<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will seek to level the playing field in digital markets by empowering regulators with new tools and powers to directly enforce competition and consumer protection laws By Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Senior reporter Published: 26 Apr 2023 12:00 The UK government has published a draft of its Digital Markets<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":641691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[284,1536,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-641690","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-government","8":"category-introduces","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=641690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641690\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/641691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=641690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=641690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=641690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}