Foreword from DP-REG Chair

In March 2022, 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) formalised existing collaborative arrangements to form the Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG).

Through DP-REG, members 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.

The rate of technological innovation and change in the digital economy has continued at pace across the 2023-24 financial year. New and enhanced online services offer additional opportunities and efficiencies for users but also present new risks of harm. We have also seen existing online harms persist in the digital platforms context. At the same time, the Australian Government is progressing a range of new regulatory responses to better protect Australians from these online harms.

In this complex regulatory environment, DP-REG continues to promote a streamlined and cohesive approach to the regulation of digital platforms. 

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 has 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.

This report highlights the key activities and achievements of the forum across the 2023-24 period, as well as significant stakeholder engagements.

Thanks to the commitment of those involved in the work of DP-REG, the forum is well-placed to continue to influence the regulation of online harms and digital platforms for the benefit of all participants in the digital economy.

Melanie Drayton
DP-REG Chair

A/g Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Key activities

Across the 2023-24 financial year, DP-REG continued to focus on assessing the impact of algorithms, improving digital transparency, and increased collaboration and capacity building between the four member regulators. We also prioritised understanding and assessing the benefits, risks and harms of generative AI and how the technology intersects with the regulatory remit of each DP-REG member.

Examining algorithms, AI and their impact

  • DP-REG has built its capability in understanding the impacts of algorithms and artificial intelligence through engaging with academia, overseas regulators, and industry. Our work in these areas has helped to inform the Government’s approach to the safe and responsible use of AI. This has included a joint submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ (DISR) consultation on Safe and Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Australia. Its purpose was to outline how DP‑REG members are working together to better understand the potential impacts posed by AI in Australia, and how our respective regulatory frameworks currently apply to AI technology. DP-REG members have continued to provide advice to help inform the implementation of the government’s approach. 
  • DP-REG members provided a joint submission to the Senate Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence. The submission highlighted our work to date on AI and provided a brief explanation of each regulator's role and some examples of work they are carrying out in relation to AI. 
  • The Examination of technology – Large Language Models working paper was published, which considered the benefits, risks and harms of large language models and how the technology intersects with the regulatory remit of each member. It was the second public paper prepared as part of DP-REG’s joint work to understand emerging digital platform technologies.

Digital transparency

  • DP-REG continues to collaborate on the development of our members’ consumer research activities, such as the ACMA’s Annual Consumer Survey and the OAIC’s Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey. Published consumer research provides transparency in relation to the views of Australians about digital platform related issues. DP-REG is also continuing to share relevant data and research to inform its collective working papers and submissions, as well as the work of individual members. 
  • Members continue to engage in discussions about existing initiatives and reform proposals to improve public transparency about the activities and operation of digital platforms. Members continue to work together to lessen the overlap between our respective transparency arrangements with platforms to the extent possible, and share information, where appropriate, to minimise regulatory burden on industry. 

Collaboration and capacity building

  • DP-REG members continued to collaborate to better understand and monitor policy developments in relation to the regulation of digital platforms and enhance the code development capabilities of individual regulators.
  • Members also engaged in collaborative stakeholder engagement and cross-regulator consultation on a range of policy issues, particularly in circumstances where an issue intersected with the regulatory remit of another member. The connections established through working groups have enabled targeted consultation and meaningful engagement on a wide range of topics relating to digital platforms and the regulatory landscape. 
  • DP-REG continues to actively participate in the International Network for Digital Regulation Cooperation with similar multi-regulator forums in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Canada. We continue to meet with individual international digital platform regulators on issues of mutual interest. 

Other activities

  • DP-REG established a new website at dp-reg.gov.au. The website is intended to be a useful resource for stakeholders and the public as a central repository of information about the work of DP-REG, including news and updates, publications and research, and joint submissions to Government.
  • DP-REG members jointly appeared at the Senate Economic References Committee Inquiry into the influence of international digital platforms. The DP-REG Steering Committee discussed our purpose and objectives, governance structure, and future priorities.
  • DP-REG also prepared a joint submission to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society, which was appointed to inquire into and report on the influence and impacts of social media on Australian society. 

Stakeholder engagement

  • DP-REG seeks to support a streamlined and cohesive approach to the regulation of digital platforms. One way in which the forum achieves this is to provide a single point of entry through which other government agencies, industry and civil society groups can engage with all DP-REG members on cross-cutting issues simultaneously. 
  • Over the 2023-24 period, DP-REG engaged with a variety of stakeholder groups, including Commonwealth agencies, international regulators, civil society groups, academia, industry, and international regulators.
  • DP-REG’s engagement across these different stakeholder groups reflects its commitment to being responsive and to seek out relevant expertise to inform our approach. The engagement also supports our objective of promoting a consistent and coordinated approach to regulation of digital platforms.