The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Digital Platform Services Inquiry 2020-25 Issues Paper. Our submission focuses on international regulatory developments and emerging competition issues, particularly in cloud computing and generative AI. We emphasize the importance of competition policies that promote innovation and caution against regulations that may inadvertently stifle the competitive process.
In our analysis, we address the potential adverse impacts of recent regulatory developments, such as the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the United Kingdom’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC). We express concerns about the broad and rigid application of these regulations, which could negatively affect businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, we discuss the dynamic nature of the cloud computing industry and the potential barriers to entry in the generative AI market. SIIA believes that new regulations or increased enforcement of existing laws in these areas could be unwarranted and counterproductive. We urge the ACCC to consider these factors in its ongoing inquiry, recognizing the need for a balanced approach that supports innovation and competition while safeguarding consumer interests.
