Takeout Platform Uses Big Data for Price Discrimination—Meituan Takeout Platform Case Study

Abstract

In the era of big data, more and more take-out platforms use algorithms to analyze customer data. These algorithms will enable users to retrieve items that are more suitable for them, and also accelerate the speed of their receipt of goods, so that users can get a better shopping experience. However, the takeaway platform uses these data to implement price discrimination through algorithms, and treats different users differently, thus damaging the rights and interests of consumers. The price discrimination based on big data algorithm has the characteristics of concealment and complexity. Therefore, there are certain difficulties in the governance of this behavior, which requires the joint efforts of the national legal department, take-out platform and consumers.