New UK regulator to rein in Google, Facebook, other tech giants

Tech giants such as Google and Facebook will be subject to a new UK regime to give consumers more choice and control over their data, help small businesses thrive, and ensure news outlets are not forced out by bigger rivals, business secretary Alok Sharma announced on Friday.

A dedicated Digital Markets Unit to be set up within the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in April will work closely with regulators including Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office to introduce and enforce a new code to govern the behaviour of the tech giants.

Officials said online platforms bring huge benefits for businesses and society, but there is growing consensus in the UK and abroad that the concentration of power within a small number of tech companies is curtailing growth in the tech sector,