The European Commission (EC) has initiated a public consultation on the future Digital Fairness Act, inviting stakeholders from both within and outside the European Union to contribute their comments until October 9, 2025. This move comes on the heels of the EC’s evaluation of EU consumer laws, which identified gaps in consumer protection and legal uncertainties in the digital realm.
The evaluation highlighted various issues, including deceptive interface designs, addictive features, unfair personalization practices, and challenges in managing digital contracts. These findings underscore the need for a more robust regulatory framework to address unethical practices and enhance consumer trust in the online environment.
To bridge these gaps, the EC aims to develop the Digital Fairness Act, focusing on curbing manipulative design techniques, misleading marketing by influencers, addictive digital product features, and exploitative online profiling. The Act seeks to empower consumers, especially minors, by giving them more control over their online experiences and protecting them from harmful practices.
The public consultation seeks feedback on several key areas, such as preventing the use of dark patterns by traders, addressing addictive design elements in digital products, and regulating the behavior of social media influencers to ensure transparency and accountability. It also aims to tackle issues related to pricing transparency, digital contracts, and consumer rights in online transactions.
By actively participating in the consultation process, stakeholders have the opportunity to shape the impact assessment and contribute to the formulation of the Digital Fairness Act. This engagement is crucial in driving policy changes that promote consumer welfare, trust, and market efficiency in the digital space.
Moreover, the Act presents an opportunity for simplification and streamlining of regulations, potentially enhancing consumer protection measures and clarifying rights and responsibilities in online transactions. The impact assessment will explore ways to optimize consumer information requirements, withdrawal rights, and transactional processes for improved clarity and efficiency.
Overall, the Digital Fairness Act represents a significant step towards strengthening consumer protection laws in the EU and fostering a more transparent and equitable digital marketplace. By soliciting input from a diverse range of stakeholders, the EC aims to create a regulatory framework that balances innovation with consumer welfare, setting a precedent for digital governance globally.
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