ARTICLE · 22 OCTOBER 2025
Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award WinnerSignalling 2.0 – Public Communication As An Antitrust Risk
In early 2024, the European Commission conducted unannounced searches of several tyre manufacturers on suspicion of cartel agreements, basing its initial suspicion largely on publicly available information – in particular transcripts of analyst calls, press releases and presentations.
GermanyAntitrust/Competition Law
1. AI-supported analysis triggers antitrust investigations by
the European Commission
In early 2024, the European Commission conducted unannounced
searches of several tyre manufacturers on suspicion of cartel
agreements, basing its initial suspicion largely on publicly
available information – in particular transcripts of analyst
calls, press releases and presentations. The European Commission
systematically evaluated this information, in part with the aid of
AI, in order to identify indications of anti-competitive
coordination.
The General Court of the European Union considered this
method of investigation to be a sufficient basis for a search and
emphasised that legal publication and transparency obligations do
not constitute justification for a violation of antitrust law
(T-188/24 – Michelin).
Companies are urged to carefully review the content of their
public communications for information relevant to
competition.
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