The Hidden Harms of Targeted Advertising by Algorithm and Interventions from the Consumer Protection Toolkit

Abstract

Developments in pervasive data collection and predictive data analytics are allowing firms to target consumers with increas ingly precise personalisedbehavioural and contextual advertising. These techniques give rise to new risks of harm in the attention economy by unduly influencing or manipulating consumers' deci sions and choices, and by narrowing the product options visible and available to them. In many countries, the legal response to concerns about targeted advertising by algorithm has been focused on privacy protection and data rights. These are important initiatives. However; consent-based data rights are unlikely to provide a comprehensive or even adequate response to the risks of ..