EU Proposes Digital Fairness Act to Combat Online Manipulation and Subscription Traps

The European Commission has unveiled the Digital Fairness Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to curb manipulative online practices. The new rules aim to bridge gaps in existing regulations and harmonize consumer protection standards across all EU member states.

A primary focus is the prohibition of "dark patterns"—interface designs that trick users into making unwanted purchases or choices. This includes banning artificial countdown timers and deceptive subscription hurdles. Additional requirements mandate price transparency, clear disclosure of paid influencer content, and stricter protections for minors' personal data.

The proposal also introduces features that allow users to disable addictive interface elements, such as infinite scrolling and auto-play videos. Furthermore, companies will be required to simplify the cancellation process for digital subscriptions and ensure users can interact with human customer support agents.