# Merchant Rights

Algorithms of Attrition: How Meituan’s AI Pricing is Hollowing Out China’s Restaurant Industry

China's food delivery giant Meituan is facing backlash as its AI-driven pricing tools automatically slash merchant prices without consent, forcing many small businesses to sell at a loss. This algorithmic control, often hidden within complex service contracts, is creating a 'prisoner's dilemma' that threatens both merchant viability and food safety standards.