# Manipulation by Algorithms. Exploring the Triangle of Unfair Commercial Practice, Data Protection, and Privacy Law - Type: News - Source: SSRN - Date: 2022-10-09 - Original: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3835259#entry-1001 - Canonical: https://overview.legal/posts/6262 - Topics: Marketing, Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement under DSA, Direct Marketing, Lawful Basis, IP Address, Artificial Intelligence, AI Standards, Healthcare, Security, Unacceptable Risk AI Systems ## Summary Machine learning can be used to optimize sales practices in consumer markets, but it also raises concerns about manipulation. According to this article, in order to mitigate these risks, we need to understand how unfair commercial practice, data protection, and privacy law interact. ## Full text [Skip to main content](#maincontent "Skip to content") [](#) [ ![PDF icon](https://static.ssrn.com/cfincludes/img/icons/icon-adobe-pdf.svg "PDF icon")Download This Paper ](Delivery.cfm/SSRN%5FID3835259%5Fcode2368965.pdf?abstractid=3835259&mirid=1) [ Open PDF in Browser ](Delivery.cfm/SSRN%5FID3835259%5Fcode2368965.pdf?abstractid=3835259&mirid=1&type=2) [ Add Paper to My Library ](#) Share: Permalink Using these links will ensure access to this page indefinitely [Copy URL](# "Copy Permalink URL") # Manipulation by Algorithms. Exploring the Triangle of Unfair Commercial Practice, Data Protection, and Privacy Law European Law Journal (Forthcoming) 41 Pages Posted: 4 May 2021 [See all articles by Philipp Hacker](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf%5Fdev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per%5Fid=2368965 "View other papers by this author")[Philipp HackerEuropean University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) - European New School of Digital Studies ](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf%5Fdev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per%5Fid=2368965 "View other papers by this author") Date Written: April 28, 2021 ### Abstract The optimization of sales practices in consumer markets through machine learning not only harbours the potential to better match consumer preferences with products, but also risks to facilitate the exploitation of consumer weaknesses discovered via data analysis. More specifically, recent technological advances have brought us to the edge of mind-reading technologies, which automatically analyse mental states and adapt offers accordingly, in potentially manipulative ways. This article shows that, in market contexts, the challenges of manipulation by algorithm necessitate an integrated understanding of unfair commercial practice, data protection, and privacy law. It maps the interactions between these contiguous yet distinct fields of law, and draws on economics and computer science to develop a novel framework to deal with algorithmic influence. In doing so, it also critically discusses the Commission proposals for the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act, and suggests to complement them with more broadly applicable measures to mitigate algorithmic manipulation. **Keywords:** Manipulation, artificial intelligence, unfair commercial practices, unfair AI practices, consumer decision making, consumer law, EU law, Digital Services Act, Artificial Intelligence Act, regulation, digital economy, targeted offers, emotional AI, mind-reading technologies **JEL Classification:** K12, K20 **Suggested Citation:** [Suggested Citation](#) Hacker, Philipp, Manipulation by Algorithms. Exploring the Triangle of Unfair Commercial Practice, Data Protection, and Privacy Law (April 28, 2021). European Law Journal (Forthcoming), Available at SSRN: [ ](#) ### [Philipp Hacker (Contact Author)](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf%5Fdev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per%5Fid=2368965) #### European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) - European New School of Digital Studies ( [email](javascript:void%280%29) ) Grosse Scharrnstr. 59 Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg 15230 Germany HOME PAGE: [ ![PDF icon](https://static.ssrn.com/cfincludes/img/icons/icon-adobe-pdf.svg "PDF icon")Download This Paper ](Delivery.cfm/SSRN%5FID3835259%5Fcode2368965.pdf?abstractid=3835259&mirid=1) [ Open PDF in Browser ](Delivery.cfm/SSRN%5FID3835259%5Fcode2368965.pdf?abstractid=3835259&mirid=1&type=2) ## Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN? 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