Competition law aims to ensure fair and undistorted competition through, for instance, the protection against abuse of market power. Many services, particularly those online, are marketed as free but in effect require payment in the form of personal information from customers. Collaboration between policy-makers in data protection, competition and consumer protection could help to ensure the efficiency of the internal market as well as the welfare and choice available to consumers.
Speech delivered by Peter Hustinx at the Seminar Covington & Burling LLP entitled "Data Protection Law in the Context of Competition Law Investigations", Brussels.
Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy market integrity and transparency, OJ C 279/03, 23.09.2011, p.20