Online Intermediation Platform Guidelines Published

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Competition Commission has issued guidelines for large online intermediation platforms to address competition concerns identified in its 2023 market inquiry.

In terms of the Competition Act, No. 89 of 1998, the Competition Commission has gazetted a notice announcing the publication of guidelines directed at large online intermediation platforms with market power operating in South Africa. These guidelines follow the conclusion of the Online Intermediation Platforms Market Inquiry (OIPMI) in 2023 and focus on conduct that may raise competition concerns or prove harmful to local platforms and businesses.

The guidelines advise large platforms incorporating specific business models to review their practices to ensure alignment with the Commission’s regulatory expectations. The document specifically addresses:

• Conduct that may stifle competition from smaller or local digital platforms.
• Practices that could be considered harmful to the business users who rely on these platforms.
• The implementation of remedial actions identified during the 2023 inquiry process.

Click here to view the notice and related documentation.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

• For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; impact is limited to professional advisory requirements for clients in the digital economy.
• For your business: Compliance officers at large digital platforms must conduct a formal review of their terms of service and algorithmic practices against these guidelines to mitigate the risk of enforcement action.
• For your clients: Local businesses and SMEs operating on large platforms now have a clearer regulatory framework to challenge unfair treatment or restrictive practices that hinder their competitive position.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/online-intermediation-platform-guidelines-published