Data Protection Partner Adam Rose spoke on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme about the interim report published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on online platforms and digital advertising. Adam talked about the serious challenge that regulators face in dealing with questions of dominance and harm in this online market, and highlighted that this is an issue which spans competition, consumer and data protection law with global implication.
He says: "You would imagine that all the other countries that have major online industries are going to be looking at it similarly".
The CMA report suggests that legislation may be needed to address the issues. Commenting further, Competition Partner Rob Murray says "It is clear that the CMA intends to deal quickly and flexibly with the perceived harms flowing from the complex and often opaque machinations of the current online advertising model which funds so much of the internet as we all use it. Their focus is on promoting both increased competition and also consumer protection, especially as regards control and possible monetisation of personal data. And to be in the vanguard in Europe and internationally with the possibility of setting higher standards than might otherwise have been possible before Brexit."