Alternative Recommendation Algorithms as an Antitrust Remedy in Digital (Democracy) Cases

27 Pages Posted: 11 Feb 2025

See all articles by Jana Lasser

Jana Lasser

University of Graz

Viktoria H.S.E. Robertson

Vienna University of Economics and Business; The Competition Law Hub

Date Written: January 25, 2025

Abstract

In digital markets, remedies are frequently seen as the weak point in EU competition law cases. In this contribution, we focus on one particular instrument that may be able to remedy certain competition concerns in digital platform markets: alternative recommendation algorithms. Through four scenarios, we explore how alternative recommendation algorithms could remedy competition concerns that arise in relation to the quality of digital services, media pluralism, and weak competition in social media and digital news markets. We assess both the design and the monitoring of this complex type of remedy by competition authorities.

Keywords: Alternative recommendation algorithms, Antitrust, Behavioural remedy, Structural remedy, External benchmark, Democracy, Competition law, Digital markets, Commitments, Modifications

JEL Classification: K21, L4

Suggested Citation

Lasser, Jana and Robertson, Viktoria H.S.E., Alternative Recommendation Algorithms as an Antitrust Remedy in Digital (Democracy) Cases (January 25, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5110925 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5110925

Jana Lasser

University of Graz ( email )

Viktoria H.S.E. Robertson (Contact Author)

Vienna University of Economics and Business ( email )

Welthandelsplatz 1
Vienna, Wien 1020
Austria

HOME PAGE: http://www.wu.ac.at/en/complaw/

The Competition Law Hub ( email )

Austria

HOME PAGE: http://www.complawhub.eu

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