What the proposal provides for
The European Commission has presented the proposed Digital Fairness Act regulation, a package of rules designed to protect consumers from digital practices that push them to stay online longer or spend more. According to IT之家, citing Bloomberg, the text introduces for users the right to disable functionalities that encourage excessive or addictive use of services. Companies that do not comply with the new rules risk sanctions.
From social media to chatbots: who will be affected
The initiative marks a change of focus compared with the past: after years of action on antitrust and privacy, Brussels is now targeting design mechanisms that capture users’ attention. The new rules are expected to have a significant impact on major social platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, but could also affect marketplaces and AI-based chatbots.
The text also bans so-called “dark patterns,” i.e. interfaces built to induce choices the consumer would not make spontaneously. Examples cited by the source include falsely announcing that stock is running out and obstacles that make it difficult to cancel a subscription. European Commissioner for Consumer Protection Michael McGrath said that feigning a scarcity of a product or service constitutes a dark pattern and must be prohibited.
Powers and sanctions, what is still missing
The proposal also expands the Commission’s direct powers: when a violation involves two-thirds of the Union’s population, Brussels could intervene without going exclusively through national authorities. For some infringements, a fine of up to 6% of the company’s annual global turnover is envisaged; smaller companies would remain excluded from direct action by the European executive.
The process, however, has only just begun: according to the source, the Digital Fairness Act will have to be negotiated and approved by the EU legislative bodies and may undergo substantial changes before becoming law. It therefore remains to be verified how broad the obligations will actually be, how users will be able to exercise the right to disable, and the timeline for entry into force.
