Competition Law and the Trading of Humans

Investigating the Nature and Extent of the Relationship Between Global Antitrust Legislation and Human Trafficking

Abstract

This article explores how global competition law shapes conditions for human trafficking. It argues that deregulated markets, narrow legal definitions, and opaque supply chains often enable exploitation, while corporate data protections hinder oversight. Case studies show how monopsony power, subcontracting, and digital platforms facilitate trafficking. The paper proposes integrating human rights into antitrust policy through expanded legal definitions, greater transparency, and the use of data and AI. It concludes that aligning competition law with anti-trafficking goals is essential to reducing systemic exploitation.