The Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen coordination in their regulation of digital platforms.
The agreement formalises how members will share information and work together on cross-cutting issues, including scams, privacy, online safety and competition concerns. It enables more coordinated regulatory responses to emerging risks and supports closer alignment in approaches to digital platform oversight.
Under the agreement, DP-REG members may share information (where permitted by law) and coordinate activity on matters of mutual interest relating to digital platforms. This includes responding to emerging risks, monitoring market developments, and addressing issues associated with the conduct and market power of large digital platform operators.
Digital platforms are complex and rapidly evolving, with consumer protection, competition, privacy and online safety issues often intersecting. The agreement recognises the impact of coordinated regulatory approaches to address these shared challenges more effectively.
While each regulator will continue to carry out its statutory functions independently, the agreement supports a more structured approach to cooperation, building on existing collaboration between members.
Background on DP-REG
The members of DP-REG are the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the eSafety Commissioner and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
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 primary goals of DP‑REG are to build regulatory capability, promote coherence across regulatory approaches, and respond to emerging risks and opportunities in the digital platform sector.