Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve data transparency amongst large tech companies in order to support competition in the digital services sector.

The 2018 Data Protection Act, which applies the EU’s GDPR standards, ensures data transparency amongst all those who process personal data, including large tech companies. Under the GDPR, companies “must be able to demonstrate that personal data are processed in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.” These transparency obligations begin at the data collection stage and apply “throughout the life cycle of processing.

This Government is committed to promoting competition in digital markets, to boost competition and innovation for the benefit of consumers and businesses. As such, we commissioned an independent panel, led by Jason Furman to report on the state of competition in digital markets. In its report, published on 13 March, the Panel makes recommendations for changes to the UK’s competition framework in order to face the economic challenges posed by digital markets, in the UK and internationally. Their report includes a bold set of pro-competition measures to open up digital markets, including measures to improve data openness and data mobility. Government is reviewing these recommendations and will issue a response shortly.