Britain Will Use New Law To Control Big Tech's Power

CMA CEO Sarah Cardell is determined to limit the big tech. (photo: gov.uk)

JAKARTA - On Tuesday, April 25, the UK announced it would introduce new laws to limit the power of big tech companies such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon in suppressing competition in the digital market. The law will also strengthen consumer protection by making it easier to stop subscribing online and making it easier to handle fake reviews, the government said.

British Competition Authority, Commission and Market Authority (CMA), formed a Digital Markets Unit two years ago, which is equipped with expertise to regulate new markets, such as social media. However, CMA does not have legal "guides" to support its duties.

The plan is that a new law that will be passed by parliament will give DMU new powers to technology companies that have a global turnover of more than 25 billion (Rp467 trillion) or UK turnover of more than 1 billion.

Under the new UK law, CMA will be able to establish specific rules for technology companies meeting these requirements to stop them from curbing small businesses and consumers. For example, they can be instructed to provide customers with more options and transparency.

If companies break the rules, Reuters reports, they could be fined up to 10% of global turnover, the government said.

CMA CEO Sarah Cardell said the law has the potential to become an "important momentum" in protecting consumers and ensuring the digital market functions for the UK economy. "Digital markets offer great benefits, but only if competition allows businesses of various forms and sizes to have the opportunity to succeed," she said. "This law is a suitable legal framework for the digital age."