Digital Fairness Act from the European Union: New Rules to Protect Consumers Online

The European Union has drafted a new regulatory framework called the Digital Fairness Act (DFA) to protect consumers in the digital world and prevent online manipulations.

The new legislative bill presented by the European Commission aims to protect consumers from misleading practices. Within the scope of the bill, 'dark patterns' that steer users toward unwanted purchases are banned, while making addictive features such as autoplay videos or infinite scrolling switchable by users is made mandatory. Furthermore, it is required that promotions made by influencers clearly state the label 'advertising'.

The regulation also includes special provisions aimed at protecting children. In-game features targeted at minor users, such as 'pay-to-win' or 'pay-to-progress', along with loot boxes, are banned. An obligation to display the real-world value of in-game virtual currencies is introduced. The EU projects that these measures will save consumers 13.7 billion euros annually.

Assessment: The bill will become law following negotiations between the European Union member states and the European Parliament. While business representatives BusinessEurope and gaming industry organizations have expressed concerns that the regulation could impose unnecessary burdens and weaken competitiveness, EU officials argue that these steps are necessary to create a safe digital space.