On 23 June 2025, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released the final report of its Digital Platform Services Inquiry (DPSI), marking the conclusion of this five-year inquiry into the supply of digital platform services. This inquiry produced 10 reports that provided in-depth examinations of a range of digital platform services and made six recommendations intended to ensure these services are competitive, fair, and promote trust in the digital economy.

In multiple DPSI reports, the ACCC’s analysis and findings were supported by other DP-REG member regulators’ work. For example:

  • when examining issues arising from app marketplaces, the ACCC referred to findings from the ACMA’s September 2020 consumer survey on trends in online behaviour and technology usage and eSafety’s February 2021 report on the digital lives of Aussie teens.
  • when examining issues arising from data products and services, the ACCC utilised the OAIC’s August 2023 Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey.
  • when examining potential impacts of generative AI on competition in related markets, the ACCC made use of DP-REG working papers on AI and algorithms.

DP-REG members have also engaged with the ACCC’s DPSI through public submissions on issues that intersect with their remits.

Endorsing DP-REG as a permanent forum

In its final DPSI report, the ACCC made a recommendation that the Government endorse the Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG), as a permanent forum. DP-REG’s members take this opportunity to reiterate our shared view that a whole-of-government approach to digital platform regulation is necessary to address the growing complexity of digital platform products and services. Best practice regulation of digital platforms requires coordination and complementary expertise to address intersecting issues across different areas of regulation.

Endorsing DP-REG as a permanent forum would assist us to respond to the wide range of risks and harms stemming from the use of digital platforms that cut across multiple areas of regulation, we would continue this initiative by:

  • proactively monitoring and co-ordinating on cross-cutting issues arising from developments in digital technology across competition, consumer, media, online privacy and online safety regulation
  • promoting efficiencies by undertaking joint research to inform government and citizens about the use and impact of digital technology, avoiding potential duplication of such activities across regulators
  • ensuring a streamlined and cohesive approach to the regulation of digital environments.

Background on DP-REG and its work

Formally established in March 2022, DP-REG is an initiative enabling its member regulators to share information about, and collaborate on, cross-cutting issues and activities on the regulation of digital platforms. This includes consideration of how competition, consumer protection, privacy, online safety and data issues intersect, with a focus on fostering a safe, trusted, fair, innovative and competitive digital economy in Australia.

Regulatory coherence, promoted by a streamlined and collaborative regulatory approach, in particular through the DP-REG forum, can help ensure that new regulations are designed with the wider regulatory environment in mind. A whole-of-government approach to the regulation of digital platforms can reduce compliance costs for businesses, and benefit international regulatory cooperation.

The global nature of digital platforms and markets means that Australia is not alone in dealing with the complex and intersecting issues arising from digital markets and platform services. Internationally, comparable regulator forums such as the UK’s Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum have been established to foster collaboration, address cross-cutting issues and promote regulatory coherence. The endorsement of DP-REG as a permanent forum would not only strengthen Australia’s domestic regulatory coordination but also ensure continued alignment with international approaches.

DP-REG work

Collectively, DP-REG has published three papers as part of its examination of emerging digital platform technologies and their impact on the regulatory responsibilities of each member, including:

DP-REG has also contributed to several Government’s consultations, including:

  • DP-REG joint submission to influence of international digital platforms inquiry (published 28 Feb 2023)
  • DP-REG joint submission to Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ AI discussion paper (published 26 July 2023)
  • DP-REG joint letter submission to Senate Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence (published 9 May 2024)
  • DP-REG joint submission to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society (published 5 July 2024).
  • DP-REG joint submission on the Australian Government’s proposals paper for introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings (published 4 October 2024).

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