Tories accused of 'watering down' Bill to make it harder for big tech firms to ... trends now
View
comments
Ministers were last night accused of 'watering down' proposals to make it harder for big tech firms to frustrate the competition watchdog.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill seeks to introduce a 'pro-competition regime' which will address the 'far-reaching market power of a small number of tech firms', such as Google and Apple.
It aims to tackle the most powerful firms' grip on the economy by opening up markets to greater competition.
Peers had amended the Bill amid fears that big tech could use their legal might and finances to frustrate the competition watchdog.
The House of Lords had voted to restore the original wording of draft legislation relating to the power of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to impose conduct requirements on firms.
Ministers have been accused of 'watering down' a bill to make it harder to frustrate the competition watchdog (stock image)
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill seeks to address the 'far-reaching market power of a small number of tech firms', such as Google and Apple (stock image)
But at the 'ping pong' stage in Parliament yesterday, the Commons overturned the peers' amendments.
Yet a number of MPs expressed