The intersection between competition and data privacy

This OECD policy brief investigates the intersection of competition and data privacy, focusing on the rising significance of data in digital business models and the complex regulatory issues stemming from overlapping competition and data privacy policies.

As major digital firms amass extensive personal data, raising concerns about market dominance and consumer privacy, there is a growing need to integrate considerations of competition and data privacy into regulatory frameworks and enforcement practices. The brief explores pathways for collaboration between competition authorities and data protection authorities to tackle these challenges and enhance regulatory effectiveness.

Advocating for a balanced approach, the brief emphasises the need to reconcile objectives in both competition and data privacy, fostering synergies between these policy domains and addressing potential conflicts to ensure robust regulation in the digital economy.

The policy brief is structured as follows:

• Chapter 1 provides an overview of the topic and of the structure of the paper

• Chapter 2 explores the connection between competition policy and data privacy, analysing their respective objectives and the integration of considerations from one area into the other.

• Chapter 3 examines interventions that aim to enhance cooperation and synergy while also addressing potential challenges and tensions.

• Chapter 4 explores various models for collaboration between competition and data privacy authorities. 

• Chapter 5 provides the final insights and conclusions.