CALL FOR PAPERS - Workshop on Data-Related Remedies in Digital Platform Markets

The Centre for Competition Law and Economics at Stellenbosch University and the Brussels Centre for Competition Policy at Vrije Universiteit Brussel are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for their upcoming workshop on "Data-Related Remedies in Digital Platform Markets," scheduled for Friday 14 November 2025, in Stellenbosch (South Africa). This event aims to bring together leading scholars in law and economics as well as practitioners and policymakers to discuss (implications of) approaches to safeguarding competition in digital platform markets. The workshop will include a series of paper presentations and several co-creation sessions. The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Ioannis Lianos of University College London.

We welcome submissions from economics scholars, law scholars, as well as interdisciplinary work and comparative case studies on the following three topics:
1. Digital Platform (Non-)Neutrality and Competition
o Competition issues arising from (algorithmic) platform non-neutrality.
o Remedies to ensure platform neutrality for business users.
2. Data-Focused Regulation and Competition in Digital Platform Markets
o Impact of data collection and data use regulation on competition.
o Studies on data portability as a remedy against platform market power.
3. Structural Remedies in Digital Markets
o Desirability and effectiveness of breaking up large digital platforms.

To be considered for participation in the workshop, please submit an abstract of no more than 500 words by 25 April 2025 via email to bccp@vub.be and wimpie2@sun.ac.za with the subject line “Workshop on Data-Related Remedies in Digital Platform Markets - Abstract Submission”. Abstracts must provide a concise and clear description of the research question, methodology, and main findings. Notification of abstract acceptance will be sent to all speakers by 9 May 2025. The submission deadline for the final version of the papers is 3 October 2025. Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue to be announced at a later date.

If your abstract is accepted, further information about conference registration and travel arrangements will be communicated. Kindly be aware that the conference registration fee for participants is at $250. This conference registration fee is waived for PhD students.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and are ready to address any inquiries.

Stellenbosch University
Centre for Competition Law and Economics
Prof. dr. Willem Boshoff

Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels Centre for Competition Policy
Prof. dr. Caroline Buts
Prof. dr. Wout De Cock
Prof. dr. Nikolas Vander Vennet
Prof. dr. Laurens Vandercruysse