Writing in The Times, Damian Collins MP observed that ‘the biggest companies are increasing their domination of different sectors of the economy’, including the digital advertising market.

Collins, who recently attended a dinner with senior representatives from PPA member businesses, added that digital competition is ‘a big problem for the future of journalism’. He also acknowledged the finding of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that Google has given its own platform a better deal, withholding data from competitors, whilst the Texas state attorney general has revealed a secret pact between Meta and Google. The ‘Jedi Blue’ deal saw Meta agree not to challenge Google’s advertising business in return for special treatment in Google’s ad auctions.

The senior politician concludes: ‘If the Online Safety Bill is to protect us on the existing web, digital competition laws will help create a better, freer internet for the future.’ The PPA has previously written about the need for digital competition to accompany online safety policy, arguing that the Online Safety Bill, whilst welcome, ‘will only remedy a symptom, not the root causes, of large digital platforms’ market power’.

The PPA is continuing to call on Government to prioritise digital competition legislation, that will rebalance the relationship between platforms and publishers. By boosting the sustainability of specialist media, the Government can guarantee that UK citizens can access trusted information on a range of topics. This will be critical in ensuring platforms’ users can live safety online.