Can Competition Law Save Democracy? Reflections on Democracy's Tech-Driven Decline and How to Stop It

Abstract

Digital technologies and platforms have brought much-needed plurality to communications and the press, but have also opened the door to increased manipulation, misinformation, and distortion in the marketplace of ideas. The worrying erosion of citizens’ autonomy has progressively intensified with the evolution of certain business models. This paper explores the ways in which the digital economy contributes to distortion of information, and the role competition law may play in safeguarding democracy.

Keywords: JEL Codes: L12, L13, L43 Competition law, Democracy, Online Platforms, Ecosystems, Autonomy

JEL Classification: K21