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German Consumer Group Issues Legal Warning to Deutsche Telekom Over Alleged Dark Patterns in Contract Cancellation

The Lower Saxony watchdog says Telekom’s cancellation page violates the EU Digital Services Act by misrepresenting number portability and EU roaming rights.

Overview

  • On December 3, 2025, the Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen issued an abmahnung to Telekom Deutschland and demanded a cease-and-desist declaration.
  • The complaint centers on a prominent magenta warning that asks “Are you sure you want to risk this?” and lists supposed consequences of canceling.
  • The listed risks include losing one’s phone number, poor reception, technical limitations, and high costs abroad, which the group says are misleading.
  • Consumer advocates cite German law guaranteeing number portability and the EU Roaming Regulation prohibiting extra intra‑EU roaming charges as evidence the warnings are inaccurate.
  • The design is characterized as a prohibited dark pattern under the Digital Services Act, and the group vows further legal steps if Telekom does not comply, with no public response from the company reported.