Antitrust Aspects of Digital Platform Operators in the Gig-Economy

The article analyses the current challenges for competition law due to the changing social relations in the context of the gig economy, the increasing impact of digital platforms on competition and the emergence of the phenomenon of platform work. The authors analyse the current approaches to anti-competitive practices by digital platforms as well as the provisions of the recently adopted Fifth Antitrust Package. The article points out that, despite the changes in the structure of employment and competition in digital markets, modern antitrust law still adheres to traditional approaches to assessing competition risks, based primarily on the impact of a monopolist’s behaviour on consumers and secondarily on its direct competitors. As a result, many unfair practices are in the blind spot of competition law, such as those related to platform work and the ability of a digital platform operator to control and coordinate the activities of a large number of formally independent sellers, contractors and performers.