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 acknowledged8 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 (9)

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 (9)

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

NOTES

(9) Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the Europe-an Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the national co-funding partners or host structures of ECCs. ECC PL, ECC SE, ECC FI and ECC IE are excluded from this collective ECCNet co-signature.

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

NOTES

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-82b4cf639f55_en.

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-82b4cf639f55_en.

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/initiatives/14622-Digital-Fairness-Act/public-consultation_en.

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/.

8 Council of the EU, Conclusions on the 2030 Consumer Agenda, https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6634-
2026-INIT/en/pdf.