Joint call for an ambitious Digital Fairness Act to better protect people online

In view of World Consumer Rights Day this Sunday, 15 March, we are writing to express our strong support for the European Commission’s intention to develop a Digital Fairness Act (DFA) and call for it to deliver meaningful protection in the digital environment for people of all ages, including vulnerable groups such as minors, seniors and persons with disabilities. 

The DFA must update horizontal EU consumer law, in particular by clarifying its requirements, to make sure it delivers online. Clearer rules will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness by increasing legal certainty for all market participants, contributing to fair competition and reducing harm done online.

Digital technologies have become essential to everyday life. But the digital environment has also enabled the proliferation of commercial practices that not only violate fundamental rights, but also undermine consumer autonomy, cause tangible financial [1], mental, and physical harm, fuel overconsumption [2], distort competition and threaten the democratic discourse. These practices are not isolated incidents but have become part of business models built on asymmetric information and behavioural manipulation.

During the last mandate, the EU adopted important legislation to better protect people online, for instance the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act and the AI Act. However, these laws are limited in scope and content and are therefore not enough to address all the unfair and harmful practices that companies use online across many sectors. 

Horizontal EU consumer law is a safety net for consumers that complements sector-specific EU legislation, but its enforcement needs to be improved. Therefore, we also strongly support the European Commission’s intention to strengthen the instruments for EU consumer law enforcement through a revision of the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation.[3] However, this will not be enough as enforcement can only be as good as the quality of the law enforced. The Digital Fairness Fitness Check[4] has confirmed that EU consumer law has legal gaps and that there is a high degree of legal uncertainty about how it applies in the digital environment.

This is unsurprising, given that the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD),[5] as one of the key instruments of horizontal EU consumer law, was adopted more than 20 years ago and hence does not sufficiently address unfair practices online that are widely used today.

Against this background, we call upon the European Commission to use the upcoming DFA for an ambitious update of horizontal EU consumer law to better protect people online against any type of unfair practices.

With around 70% of respondents calling for new binding rules on dark patterns, addictive design, unfair personalisation, influencer marketing and unfair practices in video games, the results of the DFA public consultation [6] clearly show that there is a lot of support for the upcoming DFA, way beyond the list of signatories. [7]

The Council of the EU has recently acknowledged [8] that consumer protection and competitiveness are mutually reinforcing and that consumer trust underpins the proper functioning of the Single Market. Furthermore, the Council of the EU has recognised the need to address regulatory gaps to further strengthen the protection of consumers, including minors, in the digital environment and has welcomed the European Commission’s intension to propose a DFA.

The DFA offers an opportunity to show that ‘simplification’ should not become a synonym for deregulation. Updating EU consumer law can both increase legal certainty and ensure that digital markets respect people’s rights while supporting more sustainable economic models.

We stand ready to further support the European Commission in preparing this important initiative. 

Sincerely,
 

Organisations

1.    5 Rights Foundation 
2.    AK EUROPA  
3.    AlgorithmWatch
4.    Amnesty International
5.    ARTICLE 19
6.    ASUFIN - Asociación de Usuarios Financieros
7.    Avaaz Foundation 
8.    Barnevakten 
9.    Berufsverband der Datenschutzbeauftragten Deutschlands (BvD) e.V.
10.    BEUC - The European Consumer Organisation
11.    Bits of Freedom
12.    Børns Vilkår
13.    CEE Digital Democracy Watch
14.    Center for Digital Youth Care - Center for digital pædagogik 
15.    ChangingMarkets Foundation
16.    Chaos Computer Club (CCC) 
17.    Check My Ads 
18.    Child Helpline International
19.    Child Rights International Network - CRIN 
20.    ClientEarth
21.    COFACE Families Europe
22.    Consumentenbond
23.    Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
24.    D3 - Defesa dos Direitos Digitais
25.    D64 - Zentrum für Digitalen Fortschritt
26.    Data for Good
27.    DECO - Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do Consumidor 
28.    Defend Democracy
29.    Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. - DUH
30.    Deutsche Vereinigung für Datenschutz e.V.
31.    Deutschland sicher im Netz  e.V.
32.    Digital Ansvar/ Digital Accountability
33.    Digitalcourage e.V.
34.    Digitale Gesellschaft 
35.    dTest - Czech consumer organisation
36.    ECOS
37.    Ecoteca Romania
38.    EKPIZO
39.    Electronic Frontier Norway
40.    Epicenter.works - for digital rights  
41.    Eurochild 
42.    EuroHealthNet
43.    European Consumer Centres (ECC) Network 
44.    European Digital Rights (EDRi)
45.    European Environmental Bureau 
46.    Federación de Consumidores y Usuarios CECU 
47.    Fédération SEPANSO Aquitaine 
48.    Finance Watch 
49.    Forbrugerrådet Tænk - The Danish Consumer Council
50.    Generation Climate Europe
51.    GLOBAL 2000 - Friends of the Earth Austria
52.    HateAid 
53.    Homo Digitalis
54.    Hungarian Association of Consumer Protectors (FOME) 
55.    Insitute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD)
56.    IT-Political Association of Denmark 
57.    JODI (Juridical Observatory on Digital Innovation) 
58.    KEPKA - Consumers Protection Centre 
59.    LobbyControl - Initiative für Transparenz und Demokratie e.V. 
60.    Mental Health Europe
61.    Naturskyddsföreningen - Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
62.    New School of the Anthropocene 
63.    Neytendasamtökin - NS
64.    Noyb, the European Center for Digital Rights  
65.    Open Markets Institute (Europe) 
66.    Panoptykon Foundation
67.    People vs Big Tech 
68.    Privacy International 
69.    PROSA – Your IT labour union 
70.    Qendra “Konsumatori shqiptar” 
71.    Save the Children
72.    Stop Killing Games movement
73.    Sveriges Konsumenter/Swedish Consumers' Association
74.    The Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) 
75.    The Consumers’ Association of Iceland 
76.    The European Disability Forum
77.    The Good Lobby
78.    Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD)
79.    UFC-Que Choisir  
80.    Union Luxembourgeoise des Consommateurs – ULC
81.    Verbraucherzentrale - vzbv
82.    VoxPublic
83.    What to Fix
84.    Xnet, Institute for Democratic Digitalisation
85.    Zentrum für Digitalrechte und Demokratie 
86.    ZERO - associação sistema terrestre sustentável

Individual signatories 
1.    Prof Amandine Garde, Director of the Law & NCD Research Unit, University of Liverpool 
2.    Prof. Monika Namysłowska, University of Lodz, Poland 
3.    Prof. Peter Rott, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany 
4.    Prof. Dr. Natali Helberger, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
5.    Prof. Emeritus Hans Micklitz, European University Institute, Italy 
6.    Prof. Anne-Lise Sibony, UCLouvain, Belgium 
7.    Prof. Alberto Alemanno, HEC Paris, France 
8.    Prof. Vanessa Mak, Leiden University, the Netherlands 
9.    Prof. Xandra Kramer, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Utrecht University 
10.    Prof. Carole Aubert de Vincelles, CY Cergy Paris University, France 
11.    Prof. Louis Visscher, University of Rotterdam, the Netherlands  
12.    Dr. Jennifer Bouffard, Southern Brittany University, France 
13.    Prof. Malo Depincé, Université de Montpellier, France 
14.    Prof. Joasia Luzak, University of Exeter, United Kingdom 
15.    Prof. Christine Riefa, University of Reading, United Kingdom 
16.    Prof. Mateusz Grochowski, Tulane University, USA 
17.    Dr. Kati Cseres, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands 
18.    Prof. Jan Trzaskowski, Aalborg University, Denmark 
19.    Prof. Karin Sein, University of Tartu, Estonia 
20.    Prof. Valéry Bezençon, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland 
21.    Prof. Elise Poillot, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg 
22.    Dr. Joanna Strycharz, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands  
23.    Dr. Cristiana Santos, Utrecht University, The Netherlands 
24.    Prof. Anne-Christine Fornage, University of Lausanne, Switzerland 
25.    Dr. Tom Bouwman, Leiden University, The Netherlands 
26.    Dr. Fabrizio Esposito, NOVA School of Law, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal 
27.    Dr. Candida Leone, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
28.    Dr. Francesca Episcopo, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
29.    Prof. Guido Smorto, University of Palermo, Italy 
30.    Dr. Anna van Duin, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
31.    Prof. Dr. Emilia Mišćenić, University of Rijeka, Croatia  
32.    Laura Aade, Utrecht University, The Netherlands 
33.    Dr. Irina Domurath, University of Padua, Italy 
34.    Prof. Dr. Sascha Alavi, University of Dortmund, Germany. 
35.    Dr. Emma van Gelder, Utrecht University, The Netherlands 
36.    Ass.-Prof. Dr. Kristin Nemeth, University of Innsbruck, Austria 
37.    Dr. Nada-Ina Pauer, Max-Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, Munich, Germany 
38.    Prof. dr. Marco B.M. Loos, Amsterdam Graduate School of Law, Universiteit van Amsterdam, THe Netherlands  
39.    Professor Severine Saintier Exeter University School of law, United Kingdom 
40.    Professor Aurelia Colombi Ciacchi, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 
41.    Prof. Hélène Aubry, University Paris-Saclay, France 
42.    Dr. Marijn Sax, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
43.    Professor Padraic Kenna, University of Galway, Ireland. 
44.    Prof. Federico Ferretti, University of Bologna, Italy 
45.    Theodora (Laura) Bakola, PhD Researcher, Leiden University, the Netherlands 
46.    Liubomir Nikiforov, EDHEC Business School/VUB, Researcher in Law, France/Belgium 
47.    Dr. Mathieu Combet, Associate professor, Université de Saint-Etienne, France 
48.    Dr Zsolt Hajnal, Associate professor, University of Debrecen, Faculty of Law, Hungary 
49.    Dr. Miłosz Malaga, Assistant Professor, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland 
50.    Professor James Devenney, University of Reading, United Kingdom 
51.    Dr Kasper Drążewski, Senior Researcher, KU Leuven Centre for IT & IP Law, Belgium 
52.    Dr. Josje de Vogel, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands 
53.    Dr. Andreas Kotsios, Uppsala University, Sweden 
54.    Jess Haynie-Lavelle, PhD researcher, Malmö Univeristy, Sweden 
55.    Prof. Valentina Calderai, University of Pisa, Italy 
56.    Prof. Dr. Marta Infantino, University of Trieste, Italy 
57.    Prof. Dr. Roberta Montinaro, University of Naples L'Orientale, Italy 
58.    Prof. Paul Dermine, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium 
59.    Carolina Lisboa Pinto, PhD Candidate, Leiden University, The Netherlands 
60.    Dr. Gianclaudio Malgieri, Associate Professor of Law, Leiden University, The Netherlands 
61.    Dr. Dominika Kuźnicka-Błaszkowska, University of Wroclaw, Poland 
62.    Dr. Felix Pflücke, Universities of Luxembourg and Oxford 
63.    Prof. Dr. Camilla Crea, University of Sannio, Italy 
64.    Dr. Tommaso Fia, University College London, United KingdomK 
65.    Dr. iur Rita Simon, Associate professor, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic 
66.    Ms Lena-Maria Böswald, Senior Policy Researcher, interface 
67.    Ms Jessica Galissaire, Senior Policy Researcher, interface 
68.    Maria José AZAR-BAUD, Ass. Professor Paris-Saclay University, France,  
69.    Prof. Jan Michael Bauer, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. 
70.    Dr. Irene Kamara, Associate Professor, Tilburg Law School, the Netherlands 
71.    Dr, Cecilia Isola, NOVA School of Law, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal 
72.    Dr. Laura Zoboli, IE University, Spain 
73.    Professor Fidelma White, University College Cork 
74.    Dr Cliona Kelly, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin, Ireland  
75.    Prof. Giovanni Sartor, University of Bologna, Italy 
76.    Prof. Dr. Beate Gsell, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany 
77.    Prof. Francisco de Elizalde, IE University, Spain 
78.    Dr. Ann-Kristin Mayrhofer, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany 
79.    Jorge Morais Carvalho, Full Professor, NOVA School of Law, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal  
80.    Prof. Dr. Simone van der Hof, Full professor Law and Digital Technologies, Center for Law and Digital Technologies (eLaw), Leiden University, The Netherlands 
81.    Prof. Dr. Chantal Mak, Professor of Private Law, in particular Fundamental Rights and Private Law, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
82.    Prof. Salvatore Orlando, Sapienza University of Rome, JODI (Juridical Observatory on Digital Innovation), Italy 
83.    Prof. Dr. Caroline Meller-Hannich, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany 
84.    Sally Bagheri, phd student in Computer Science, Malmö University, Sweden 
85.    Prof. Monika Jagielska, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland 
86.    Dr. Giuseppe Versaci, Associate Professor of Private Law, University of Insubria, Italy 
87.    Prof. Dr. Alberto De Franceschi, University of Ferrara / KU Leuven, Italy 
88.    Prof. Dr. Reinhard Steennot, Ghent University, Belgium 
89.    Prof. Dr. Charlotte Pavillon, Professor of private law, in particular consumer law, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 
90.    Dr. Aurelija Lukoseviciene, Researcher in Law and Technology, Lund University, Sweden 
91.    Dr. Gerasimos (Jerry) Spanakis, Assistant Professor, Maastricht University, Netherlands 
92.    Dr. L.B.A. Tigelaar, Assistant Professor, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 
93.    Dr. Marta Santos Silva, University of Minho, Portugal 
94.    Dario Salvi, Associate Professor in Computer Science, Malmö University, Sweden 
95.    Prof. Sabine Bernheim-Desvaux, University of Angers, France 
96.    Prof. Evelyne Terryn, KU Leuven, Belgium  
97.    Professor Christian Twigg-Flesner, University of Warwick, United Kingdom. 
98.    Dr. C.E. de Jager, Assistant Professor, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 
99.    Prof. Bert Keirsbilck, KU Leuven – Consumer Competition Market - Belgium 
100.    Dr. E.A.G, van Schagen, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University, The Netherlands 
101.    Jie Ouyang, PhD researcher, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 
102.    Sara Caramaschi, PhD student in Computer Science, Malmö University, Sweden  
103.    Dr Mathilde Calcio Gaudino, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg 
104.    Prof. Daniele Imbruglia (Sapienza, University of Rome) 
105.    Prof. Pascal Pichonnaz, University of Fribourg, Switzerland 
106.    Assoc Prof Dr Petra Weingerl, University of Maribor, Slovenia 
107.    Dr Timothy J. Dodsworth, Associate Professor, University of Reading, United Kingdom. 
108.    Prof. Dr. Sergio Cámara Lapuente, University of La Rioja, Spain. 
109.    Prof. Mary Donnelly, University College Cork, Ireland. 
110.    Dr Jagna Mucha, University of Warsaw, Poland. 
111.    Prof. Giovanni De Gregorio, PLMJ Chair in Law and Technology, Católica Global School of Law, Lisbon, Portugal 
112.    Ms Marine Cornelis, Executive Director and Founder, Next Energy Consumer 
113.    Elena Bargelli, University of Pisa, Italy 
114.    Dr. Dominik Dworniczak, University of Zurich, Switzerland and University of Salzburg, Austria 
115.    Dr. Antonio Davola, Associate Professor of Economic Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy 
116.    Dr. Marine Friant – Université de Nantes, France

[1] According to the Digital Fairness Fitness Check, unfair commercial practices alone cause consumers an annual financial loss of at least 7.9 billion Euro; European Commission, SWD(2024)230, Fitness Check of EU consumer law on digital fairness, https://commission.europa.eu/document/707d7404-78e5-4aef-acfa-82b4cf639….
[2] BEUC complaint against Shein, Click to buy (more), https://www.beuc.eu/enforcement/click-buy-more.
[3] Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws.
[4] European Commission, SWD(2024)230, Fitness Check of EU consumer law on digital fairness, https://commission.europa.eu/document/707d7404-78e5-4aef-acfa-82b4cf639….
[5] Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market.
[6] European Commission, Public consultation on the Digital Fairness Act, Factual summary report, https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiativ….
[7] See also the more than 228,000 signatures for a petition calling for a strong enforcement of the Digital Services Act and a prohibition of addictive techniques that are not covered by existing legislation, https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/eu_social_media_addiction_loc/.&nb…;
[8] Council of the EU, Conclusions on the 2030 Consumer Agenda, https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6634-2026-INIT/en/pdf.