Google, Apple, Amazon to front Senate probe into their power in Australia

Digital platforms have an important responsibility in tackling efforts to spread false information online, Google will tell a parliamentary inquiry. A Senate committee examining the influence of international digital platforms will hear from the search and advertising giant at a hearing in Canberra on Tuesday.

The inquiry is being held in response to concerns about the power exerted by “big tech” multinational companies over Australian markets and democracy.

In its submission, Google argued misinformation and disinformation were a complex challenge to deal with in the absence of a “silver bullet”. The company said it engaged in a “delicate balance” of taking steps to address the issue while respecting users’ human rights to freedom of expression.

“We have an important responsibility to our users and to the societies in which we operate to curb the efforts of those who aim to propagate false information on our platforms,” it said.

Media literacy was an important starting point, Google added.

Its submission said governments needed to ensure each platform had an action plan that addressed disinformation as it appeared on its services. This plan should be communicated clearly with regular reporting to be shared, and re-evaluations to change the plan as needed.

Apple said it considered privacy a fundamental human right, and had designed its products and services to protect it.

“We intentionally design and build our products to the highest privacy and security standards in the market,” it said.

In its submission, Apple wrote that it went beyond compliance with legal requirements, saying its privacy principles should serve as a floor, not a ceiling for data protection. The company said it collected much less user data than other technology companies and did not rely on the tracking, analysis or monetisation of user data.

Amazon touted its economic contribution to Australia, citing investments including fulfilment centres and logistics sites in several major cities. This was in addition to Prime Video, which will launch a record nine new Australian productions this year.

Since opening its Australian store in 2017 Amazon had contributed to competition in the retail sector by giving consumers more options, the company said.

The Senate committee will hand down an inquiry report by December.

This article was first published by AAP.