More transparency in online platforms and search engines

A new act on a prohibition procedure concerning online intermediation services and search engines will enter into force on 12 July 2020. The act is based on an EU regulation aimed at promoting the transparency of online platforms and search engines.

The EU regulation lays down provisions on issues such as the deadlines within which online platforms must notify the company of contractual changes or the termination of the service. The regulation also contains provisions on an obligation to provide companies with access to information affecting the order of search results displayed by the online platform or search engine. For example, platforms and search engines must indicate how payments can be used to affect the order of displayed search results.

National legislation provides for national regulation that complements the EU regulation. After the act has entered into force, companies and the organisations representing them can bring a prohibition procedure aiming to end an incompatible procedure before the Market Court. The Market Court can prohibit the continued use of a procedure incompatible with the regulation by a provider of online intermediation services, i.e. an online platform or search engine. The prohibition can be made more effective with a penalty payment.

Inquiries:
Sami Teräväinen, Senior Officer, Legal Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 060 088