News corp takes aim against tech giants in OZ probe

SYDNEY: Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation accused Facebook and Google of “anti-competitive practices” in one of dozens of submissions to a probe of the tech giants released today by Australia’s competition watchdog. A total of 57 media companies, advertisers and journalist groups put forward their cases for changes in the operations of the internet titans, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported.

News Corp, the country’s main newspaper group led the charge in arguing that Facebook and Google’s dominance of digital advertising significantly undermined the news industry.

“A number of digital platforms possess substantial market power and are engaging in anti-competitive practices that prevent publishers such as News Corp Australia from competing on the merits,” the company said in a 144-page submission.