Algorithms: How they can reduce competition and harm consumers 2021 (CMA)

A research paper from the CMA

Abstract

The paper identifies potential harms to competition and consumers from the use of algorithms, focusing on those the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) or other national competition or consumer authorities may be best placed to address. These include direct harms to consumers, such as personalisation of prices and other aspects of online choice architecture. They also include harms to competition, such as the use of algorithms to exclude competitors (for example, to facilitate self-preferencing) and the potential for algorithms to facilitate collusion. The paper also summarises techniques that could be used to analyse algorithmic systems and the role of regulators in addressing these harms.

Citation

CMA, Algorithms: How they can reduce competition and harm consumers (2021) [online] Available at: Algorithms: How they can reduce competition and harm consumers [Accessed on 4 February 2022]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/algorithms-how-they-can-reduce-competition-and-harm-consumers

Updates to this page

Published 25 March 2022