Research team

Expertise

Expert European economic law, in particular as regards technology regulation, competition law, state aid, the internal market and EU trade policy.

Artificial Intelligence Regulation for Digital Marketplaces (AIRDM). 01/08/2023 - 31/07/2024

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly prominent role in determining search results and rankings in the digital marketplace. This project considers three oversight models proposed to create greater transparency of the use of AI language models for online marketplaces. These include (i) a top-down model with government access to search algorithms, (ii) a bottom-up model with selfregulation by companies through guidelines or ethical principles, and (iii) an (intermediate) auditing model with government testing of algorithm outputs using counterfactuals. The expected result is a policy recommendation at an EU level on a form of oversight that may help protect consumer rights. This is an ambitious undertaking, given the current lack of regulation in the space, and the various proposals still being debated at the EU level, including the Artificial Intelligence Act and The Data Act. The policy recommendation may therefore enhance ongoing legislative proposals, allowing for the creation of an overarching oversight mechanism. This project will directly contribute to the safe "uptake of AI in the EU" which is an ongoing economic policy objective of the EC.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Taming ecosystem power of platforms through contract and competition law. 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2025

Abstract

Online platforms have enhanced the efficiency of contract chains by reducing transaction costs and lowering entry barriers. In this way, the platform economy could have positive welfare effects for all contract chain actors. The platform's strength lies in its triple role as (i) gatekeeper to the platform, (ii) legislator of the relationships within the ecosystem and (iii) contractual actor with rights and responsibilities within the ecosystem. However, there is also evidence of possible negative welfare effects amongst retailers, service providers (especially gig workers) and customers. These problems mainly seem to be caused by the fact that the platforms' strengths result in an excess power within the ecosystem. This research aims to come to a power balancing mechanism that allows for the management of excess powers, without eliminating platform strengths and the platforms' potential welfare benefits. Current solutions ignore the shift from bilateral contracts to multistakeholderecosystem contracts, and from absolute market power to relative ecosystem-power. Literature and recently developed legal instruments especially ignore the ecosystem legislator role of platforms and how it interacts with the other roles. This project instead integrates the three aspects of platform power in one ecosystem-based legal model and aims to tackle excess power through a highly innovative holistic approach combining contract law and competition law solutions.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Taming ecosystem power of platforms through contract and competition law. 01/10/2021 - 30/09/2025

Abstract

Online platforms have enhanced the efficiency of contract chains by reducing transaction costs and lowering entry barriers. In this way, the platform economy could have positive welfare effects for all contract chain actors. The platform's strength lies in its triple role as (i) gatekeeper to the platform, (ii) legislator of the relationships within the ecosystem and (iii) contractual actor with rights and responsibilities within the ecosystem. However, there is also evidence of possible negative welfare effects amongst retailers, service providers (especially gig workers) and customers. These problems mainly seem to be caused by the fact that the platforms' strengths result in excess power within the ecosystem. This research aims to come to a power balancing mechanism that allows for the management of excess powers, without eliminating platform strengths and the platforms' potential welfare benefits. Current solutions ignore the shift from bilateral contracts to multi-stakeholder ecosystem contracts, and from absolute market power to relative ecosystem-power. Literature and recently developed legal instruments especially ignore the ecosystem legislator role of platforms and how it interacts with the other roles. This project instead integrates the three aspects of platform power in one ecosystem-based legal model and aims to tackle excess power through a holistic approach combining contract law and competition law solutions.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project