Overview
- The European Commission publicly presented the draft Digital Fairness Act in Brussels on reports dated November 10–11, 2026, and the text now moves into formal talks with the European Parliament and the Council.
- The draft lists and prohibits specific 'dark patterns' such as hidden cancellation paths, fake scarcity messages and manipulative checkout designs that steer consumers toward unwanted purchases.
- It would force active consent for free trial rollovers, require reminders before automatic renewals, simplify cancellations and demand clearer disclosures for dynamic pricing.
- For children the proposal bans personalized ads, restricts loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics for minors, and requires in-game virtual currencies to show real money value or be disabled by default.
- Regulators would be able to impose fines up to 6% of a company’s annual worldwide turnover, the law would replace the 2005 unfair commercial practices directive as an EU regulation, and enforcement could reshape how online shops, apps and games design user flows.