Brussels – The EU Commission is hunting down online traps and dangerous products. In its strategy paper, the authorities announced stricter rules – against manipulation on the Internet and for better product security. The goal: Consumers in the European Union must receive better protection.
At the heart of the plan is a digital justice law, which will be passed in 2026. The aim is to take action against dark patterns – malicious tricks that encourage users to make unwanted purchases. Addictive designs and unfair advertising must also stop.
Minors must be better protected
Special focus: children and teenagers on the Internet. They should be less exposed to harmful practices. Examples: cyberbullying, adult content, and algorithms that specifically exploit children’s weaknesses.
How exactly the EU wants to implement this remains unclear. A study in the European Union aims to examine how social media harms the younger generation. Also want to Brussels established a panel of experts on children and social media.
Reforms against unsafe products
Authorities also plan to reform market surveillance. The goal: to take action against unsafe products, especially from third countries. More and more online products do not meet EU standards. The Deputy President of the EU Commission in charge, Henna Virkkunen, said: “We must ensure that consumer law is able to meet new challenges.”
