South Korean court seeks to probe intent behind Coupang's algorithm design
By Wooyoung Lee ( May 15, 2026, 08:32 GMT | Insight) -- The presiding judge in a criminal case involving South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang and its alleged self-preferencing conduct underscored the need to understand the business intent and decision-making behind the design and modification of the company’s algorithms through upcoming witness testimonies. Prosecutors and Coupang’s lawyers argued over which witnesses should be summoned first — engineers that designed and modified algorithms or business teams responsible for the business strategies that shaped those changes. The Friday hearing also revealed procedural tensions over the designation of witnesses and sequencing of witnesses.The presiding judge in a criminal case involving South Korea’s e-commerce giant Coupang and its alleged self-preferencing conduct underscored the need to understand the business intent and decision-making behind the design and modification of the company’s algorithms through upcoming witness testimonies....
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