The Antitrust Implications of Big Data and Algorithmic Collusion: A Critical Analysis in the Enforcement of Competition Law in the Digital Economy

The Antitrust Implications of Big Data and Algorithmic Collusion: A Critical Analysis in the Enforcement of Competition Law in the Digital Economy

Author: Ms. Sneha K

Affiliation: LLM (Corporate and Commercial Law), School of Law Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru

Journal: Annual International Journal on Analysis of Contemporary Legal Affairs (AIJACLA)

ISSN (Online): 2583-1437 | Volume 5, 2025

Paper Code: AIJACLAV28RP2025

Pages: 301–319

Category: Research Paper

Date of Publication: February 10, 2026

Citation: Ms. Sneha K, “The Antitrust Implications of Big Data and Algorithmic Collusion: A Critical Analysis in the Enforcement of Competition Law in the Digital Economy”, 5, AIJACLA, 301, 301-319 (2025).

Author Details

Ms. Sneha K

LLM (Corporate and Commercial Law), School of Law Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru

Abstract

This paper critically analyses the antitrust implication of the digital economy including Big Data and algorithms collusion whereby it operates autonomously on a market behaviour through self-learning and complex algorithms. It seeks to determine and evaluate the material legal and technical gaps in the application of competition law especially where the conventional ideas of agreement and intent fail to cover the concept of the algorithmic tacit collusion. Available literature emphasizes how the current antitrust constructs which are based mostly on the analogue age find it difficult to cope with the form of obscurity independence and coordination that algorithms provide.

Keywords

Algorithmic Collusion, Antitrust, Competition Law, Big Data and Digital Economy.

Full manuscript submitted for publication in AIJACLA Volume 5, 2025.