ACCC Archives

Consumer watchdog launches influencer crackdown over hidden ads after social media users dob them in

Apurva Chaudhry - January 30, 2023 2 MIN READ

The Australia Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) is combing through social media platforms to identify influencers that don’t disclose affiliations with the product and company they’re promoting. Social media users reported more than 100 influencers to the regulator. Most tip-offs were about beauty, lifestyle, parenting, and fashion influencers who failed to follow the advertising disclosure… Read more »

Global tech

Google had a big win over the ACCC in its legal fight over personal data use

Simon Thomsen - December 12, 2022 2 MIN READ

Legal action by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission against Google over changes to its data privacy policy has been dismissed by the Federal Court in a big win for the US tech company. The court found that Google did not mislead Australian consumers when it changed its privacy policy to expand the scope of… Read more »

Global tech

Uber cops $21 million fine for misleading users over cancellation fees and taxi prices

Simon Thomsen - December 7, 2022 2 MIN READ

Four years of misleading users about cancellation fees if they book a taxi via Uber’s app has cost the ridesharing company A$21 million. That’s roughly Uber’s commission on 3 million $20 rides. The Federal Court ordered Uber to pay the $21 million penalty after the US tech giant admitted it had engaged in misleading or… Read more »

Politics

The ACCC wants tougher controls over tech titans Meta, Google, Apple and Amazon to tackle scams and fraud

Simon Thomsen - November 14, 2022 3 MIN READ

The Australian and Consumer Competition Commission (ACCC) wants tougher regulations to tackle issues such as online scams, dodgy apps and fake reviews, putting the onus on major tech companies such as Meta and Google to address the harms caused to consumers, and small businesses. The ACCC’s fifth report in its five-year Digital Platform Services Inquiry proposes… Read more »

Business

Telstra, Optus and TPG pay a combined $33.5 million in fines for misleading speed claims on NBN plans

Simon Thomsen - November 11, 2022 2 MIN READ

Australia’s three largest internet service providers, Telstra, Optus and TPG have copped Federal Court penalties totalling $33.5 million after they all admitted to making false or misleading claims about their NBN plans. Telstra was ordered to pay $15 million, Optus $13.5 million, and TPG $5 million for breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) in relation… Read more »

Business

Consumer watchdog the ACCC is hunting down ‘greenwashing’, undisclosed influencer ads on social media, and fake online reviews

Simon Thomsen - October 4, 2022 2 MIN READ

Consumer protection regulator the ACCC has launched new crackdowns on misleading environmental and sustainability marketing claims as well as fake or misleading online business reviews. ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said the online sweep over the coming weeks with see it review at least 200 company websites in the hunt for misleading environmental claims. “As… Read more »

Social Media

Competition watchdog the ACCC is turning its attention to how companies use social media

Simon Thomsen - August 16, 2022 2 MIN READ

The ACCC’s Digital Platforms Services Inquiry will dive into competition for social media services in Australia as part of the sixth interim report of the regulator’s five-year Digital Platform Services Inquiry. The competition watchdog will also look at consumer issues, such as the way that businesses use social media advertising services, including paid influencers. An… Read more »

Global tech

Google smacked with $60 million for misleading Australian users over Android phone tracking

Simon Thomsen - August 15, 2022 2 MIN READ

Tech giant Google has been hit with $60 million in penalties by Australia’s Federal Court for for making misleading representations to consumers about the collection and use of their personal location data on Android phones. The fine resulted from legal action by consumer watchdog the ACCC, which took Google to court in October 2019 over… Read more »

Fintech

A major bank has been fined for failing to share customer details under the Consumer Data Right

Simon Thomsen - July 13, 2022 2 MIN READ

Complaints from the fintech sector that some major banks have been slow to get with the program when it comes to open banking have proved true with the competition watchdog slapping a $133,200 fine on the Bank of Queensland. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued the penalty and infringement notice against BoQ for allegedly… Read more »

Data

The ACCC wants online marketplaces to give users more control over their data

Katherine Kemp - May 4, 2022 4 MIN READ

Consumers using online retail marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon “have little effective choice in the amount of data they share”, according to the latest report of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Digital Platform Services Inquiry. Consumers may benefit from personalisation and recommendations in these marketplaces based on their data, but many are… Read more »

Global tech

Uber cops $26 million fine after admitting it misled more than 2 million Australians over its cancellation fee

Simon Thomsen - April 26, 2022 2 MIN READ

Ridesharing company Uber has admitted it misled customers when it warned them of additional fees for cancelling trips and has agreed to wear a $26 million fine following action by consumer watchdog the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. Uber has admitted that it breached the Australian Consumer Law by making false or misleading statements in… Read more »

Global tech

Booking site Trivago whacked with $44.7 million fine over misleading consumers about cheap hotel rates

Simon Thomsen - April 23, 2022 2 MIN READ

Hotel comparison site Trivago has been hit with $44.7 million in penalties by the Federal Court, misleading representations about hotel room rates on its website and in television advertising, in proceedings brought by the ACCC. The fine brings to an end a four-year legal battle against the Nasdaq-listed German tech company, launched by consumer watchdog the… Read more »

Global tech

Here’s why Facebook could be found liable for celebrity crypto scam ads

Katherine Kemp - March 22, 2022 4 MIN READ

On the last day of his 11 years as chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims announced the commission is bringing a “world-first” claim against Meta (owner of Facebook) in the Federal Court for false or misleading conduct. The ACCC alleges Meta failed to take sufficient steps to stop displaying scam… Read more »

Business

Competition watchdog the ACCC joins Andrew Forrest in suing Facebook over celebrity scam ads

Simon Thomsen - March 18, 2022 3 MIN READ

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against Facebook’s parent company, Meta, alleging the social media giant engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct by publishing scam advertisements featuring prominent Australians. The Federal Court case claims Facebook was in breach of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) or the Australian Securities and… Read more »

Business

Funeral startup Bare Cremation falls foul of the consumer watchdog over ‘misleading’ claims

Simon Thomsen - November 9, 2021 2 MIN READ

Prepaid funerals startup Bare Cremation has fallen foul of consumer watchdog the ACCC just two years after it launched. The venture has been handed a $13,320 infringement notice for allegedly making a false and misleading representation about the price of its cremation services. Friends Cale Donovan and Sam McConkey, co-founded of Bare in 2019, pledging… Read more »