Latest news with #CompetitionCommission
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
CCCS flags Agoda's 'problematic' website and app features that could mislead Singapore consumers
SINGAPORE: The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has raised concerns over Agoda's 'problematic' website and mobile app features, saying it could mislead Singapore consumers. One concern the commission pointed out was Agoda's use of the 'Best Match' search results. While the results suggested listings were based 'solely' on a user's search criteria, CCCS found the rankings were also influenced by how much Agoda would earn from the properties. The default ranking of search results was also flagged, as Agoda's Terms of Use states that accommodation providers could boost their visibility by paying Agoda as part of a 'Preferred Partner' programme or by sponsoring their own listings. Another feature flagged was the 'Agoda Preferred' badge shown on some listings as 'trusted and verified properties' that have a long-standing relationship with the platform and 'meet certain criteria'. CCCS pointed out that Agoda does not clearly explain what these criteria are. It also did not disclose that businesses have to pay Agoda more to get the badge. In addition, accommodations with the 'cheapest x-star stay' label were not actually the lowest-priced option when search results were sorted by price for the same star rating, misleading users who are looking for the cheapest option available. CCCS also expressed concern that the five-minute countdown timer that appears during the booking process could create a false sense of urgency for users. 'Agoda has since voluntarily provided an undertaking and cooperated with CCCS to make changes to its website and mobile application to ensure that consumers get accurate and adequate information to consider before they make their purchases,' CCCS said. The 'Best Match' label was replaced with 'Our Picks' to better reflect the platform's recommendations. It also now clearly discloses that 'Agoda Preferred' properties pay an additional commission. In addition, Agoda has extended its website countdown timer to 20 minutes, matching the app, and removed its 'cheapest x-star stay' label to avoid confusing consumers. /TISG Read also: HPL receives green light to acquire entire Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall strata area at S$821M Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Meta appoints Arun Srinivas as India head
Meta Platforms said on Monday that Arun Srinivas has been appointed as the managing director and head for Meta in India, effective July 1. Srinivas currently heads the tech giant's India ads business, according to his LinkedIn profile. His appointment comes at a time when Meta and Indian authorities have locked horns regarding allegations of the tech firm's anti-competitive practices in the country. In November, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had fined the company over antitrust violations and restricted popular messaging platform WhatsApp - which Meta owns - from sharing user data with other Meta-owned applications for advertising purposes for a period of five years. Meta had disagreed with the CCI's order and had warned of a hit to its business. It won a major relief earlier this year when an Indian tribunal temporarily suspended the five-year data sharing ban. (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Meta Appoints Arun Srinivas as its India Head
Meta Platforms said on Monday that Arun Srinivas has been appointed as the managing director and head for Meta in India, effective July 1. Srinivas currently heads the tech giant's India ads business, according to his LinkedIn profile. His appointment comes at a time when Meta and Indian authorities have locked horns regarding allegations of the tech firm's anti-competitive practices in the country, Reuters reported. In November, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had fined the company over antitrust violations and restricted popular messaging platform WhatsApp - which Meta owns - from sharing user data with other Meta-owned applications for advertising purposes for a period of five years. Meta had disagreed with the CCI's order and had warned of a hit to its business. It won a major relief earlier this year when an Indian tribunal temporarily suspended the five-year data sharing ban.
CNA
6 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Meta appoints Arun Srinivas as India head
Meta Platforms said on Monday that Arun Srinivas has been appointed as the managing director and head for Meta in India, effective July 1. Srinivas currently heads the tech giant's India ads business, according to his LinkedIn profile. His appointment comes at a time when Meta and Indian authorities have locked horns regarding allegations of the tech firm's anti-competitive practices in the country. In November, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had fined the company over antitrust violations and restricted popular messaging platform WhatsApp - which Meta owns - from sharing user data with other Meta-owned applications for advertising purposes for a period of five years. Meta had disagreed with the CCI's order and had warned of a hit to its business. It won a major relief earlier this year when an Indian tribunal temporarily suspended the five-year data sharing ban.
Zawya
23-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa's logistics sector set for transformation under new regulations
The final regulations for a block exemption for ports, rail and key feeder road corridors has been issued by South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, in consultation with the Competition Commission. The regulations, which came into effect on 8 May 2025, provide a possible path for competitors, customers and suppliers involved in the rail, ports and road sector to collaborate to alleviate the challenges the sector is experiencing, without contravening the Competition Act 89 of 1998, as amended. Objective of the regulations The regulations aim to facilitate cooperation among market participants to address systemic inefficiencies and infrastructure challenges in South Africa's transport and logistics sectors. Specifically, the regulations aim to: - reduce costs, improve services, and minimise losses caused by operational inefficiencies and infrastructure capacity shortages; - prevent, mitigate and resolve bottlenecks and operational breakdowns in port and rail infrastructure; - contribute to measures aimed at resolving the challenges in the sector; and - ensure security of supply of goods transported through South Africa's ports, rails and key feeder road corridors. Scope of the exemption The regulations exempt specific categories of agreements and practices from the application of section 4 and 5(1) of the Competition Act, including the per se prohibitions on: - fixing purchase price or trading conditions (excluding the fixing of a selling price) (Section 4(1)(b)(i)) - dividing markets by allocating customers, suppliers, territories or specific types of goods or services (Section 4(1)(b)(ii)) Categories of exempted conduct The exemption enables coordination on ports and rail as well as key road corridors that feed this infrastructure. Ports - joint planning on port capacity and re-routing of cargo between ports - traffic flow coordination into ports, including sharing operational data (eg, stack levels, weather disruptions) - night operations coordination to ease peak-hour congestion - joint repair, maintenance and development of port infrastructure and facilities - collaboration on technical studies and assessments to enhance sector efficiency - joint investment or funding initiatives for infrastructure upgrades - shared use of independent consultants or technical experts Users of a particular congested terminal in a port may, for example, exchange information on the volumes and delivery methods for cargo they export through that terminal. They might then agree to stagger their deliveries and shipments on a coordinated basis, in coordination with the terminal operator, to relieve congestion at peak times and create greater efficiencies in cargo exports from that terminal. Rail - joint management and upgrading of rail logistics infrastructure - coordination on freight volumes to support dedicated rail services - shared locomotive capacity - reinstatement of services to strategic logistics nodes - integrated rail-port planning to streamline cargo flow - sector-focused collaborative studies - joint infrastructure funding or investment - shared procurement of independent advisory services By way of example, a particular rail corridor may not be utilised to its full design capacity because of ongoing maintenance challenges, or a shortage of rolling stock, or both. In this case, some or all of the exporters who use that rail corridor to export dry bulk commodities, for example, can jointly agree to fund and procure any maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and/ or rolling stock required to ensure the line performs to design capacity. This ensures that they each achieve their maximum export volumes. They might then agree with the network manager and rail transport provider that the funding is repaid over an agreed period of time by way of discounted tariffs from the rail transport provider. Key feeder road corridors that interface with ports and rail (limited to roads that are key feeder corridors) - joint maintenance and development of infrastructure - sector-wide technical studies to improve efficiency - shared investment in corridor upgrades - procurement and sharing of technical experts or consultants The relevant trucking industry bodies, for example, could agree jointly to commission and fund a technical study to reduce surface wear and congestion on a feeder road to a port. Exclusions The regulations specifically exclude the following conduct: - any discussions/ agreements on fixing the selling price of goods/ services - collusive tendering - any agreement that forecloses third-party access to rail infrastructure (such as new entrants, small- and medium-sized enterprises and historically disadvantaged persons) - any agreement or practice that conflicts with sector-specific legislation or policy - resale price maintenance - any merger transaction Application and approval process Firms seeking to rely on the exemption must submit a written request to the Commission for confirmation that the proposed conduct falls within the scope of the regulations. The Commission, after consultation with the relevant sector regulator and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, may: - approve the exemption (with or without safeguards) - decline the request if it falls outside the scope of the regulations The Commission is required to issue a decision within 30 business days, extendable by an additional 30 business days. If no decision is issued within the prescribed period, the agreement or practice is deemed approved. The Commission retains discretion to determine the duration of each exemption. Duration of the regulations The regulations will remain in force for an initial period of 15 years, with the option of a further 15-year extension, although this does not necessarily mean that agreements contemplated under the regulations will be permitted to endure between firms for 15 years. Upon withdrawal of the regulations, firms will be afforded a reasonable period to wind down any ongoing arrangements. Providers of port and rail services as well as customers purchasing these services or other firms in the sector who wish to utilise the exemption, need to ensure that their proposed conduct falls within the scope of the regulations and is approved by the Commission prior to engaging in these collaborations in order to avoid any risk of prosecution by the Commission. The exemption nevertheless creates a significant opportunity to rapidly improve and enhance efficiencies in the freight logistics sector. The various genres of exempt collaboration and cooperation present numerous opportunities for industry participants to be creative in their support of the logistics network for their greater good and that of the country as a whole. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
