Under a new digital authority aiming at providing customers more choice online, huge tech companies like Google and Facebook parent Meta would have to follow strict British laws or risk large fines.
The UK government unveiled the powers it intends to give its Digital Markets Unit, a regulator established last year to counter tech firms’ dominance. It didn’t explain when the rules would go into force, simply that legislation will be introduced “in due time.”
Smartphone users will have more search engines to choose from and greater control over how their data is used, according to the government’s digital agency. Small businesses that do a lot of their business online would have to be warned about algorithm modifications that could harm their web traffic and earnings.
The watchdog would also be given the authority to resolve pricing disputes between internet platforms and news publishers, ensuring that media organizations are adequately compensated for their work, according to the government.
