EU to make addictive app features easier to switch off

Brussels – The European Union will on Wednesday unveil new rules to crack down on influencer marketing, ban online features that trick Europeans and force platforms to give users the right to turn off “addictive” features. The EU already has a raft of laws covering data protection, artificial intelligence and online content but Brussels and campaigners argue there are gaps that leave consumers exposed to harmful digital practices. The bloc’s executive will unveil a much-needed update of consumer rules dubbed the “Digital Fairness Act” (DFA) that will give it the power to slap fines on companies of up to six percent of their annual turnover in large-scale cases. The financial harms to European consumers are vast: official data showed “problematic” digital practices led to losses for individuals reaching 10.3 billion euros ($11.5 billion) a year. Based on draft documents seen by AFP, the proposal will include: — a ban on “dark patterns”, the practice of tricking users into making unwanted purchases or opting in to certain settings without their knowledge — stricter rules on how brands promote content through influencers, demanding clear labels such as “advertisement” on posts — a ban on offering minors “pay-to-win” or “pay-to-progress” features, and a requirement for in-game virtual currencies to show their real-world value — platforms must remind consumers when a free trial period ends with details about the end date and how much it will cost to continue — access to human customer service operators when users demand it. EU consumer protection chief Michael McGrath has previously said the new rules aim to “step up our fight against unfair commercial practices”, pointing to data that shows 97 percent of popular platforms use dark patterns. The European Consumer Organisation’s Agustin Reyna said the proposal is a “much-needed tool to give consumers back control of how much time and money they spend online”. – ‘Safety net’ – Questions have been raised over the EU’s expanding digital rulebook after Brussels unveiled plans to ban children under 13 from social media, and force companies to make platforms safe for use by minors — in addition to sweeping rules already in place under the Digital Services Act. But Spanish EU lawmaker Laura Ballarin Cereza said the proposal aimed to make a “safer online space for everyone, children and adults alike”, adding it will “fill the gaps” as “consumer law is meant to act as a safety net”. The EU also wants users to know the full price of an order before checkout, banning a practice known as “drip pricing” where fees are hidden until the end. The European Commission, the bloc’s digital watchdog, has faced pressure from EU lawmakers and consumer advocates who accuse it of failing to enforce its online content and competition rules. “Strong rules only matter if they are properly enforced,” said the Euroconsumers group, which represents users’ rights across several EU countries. NGO Finance Watch said the proposal on dark patterns goes “in the right direction, but they lack ambition to sufficiently protect consumers in financial services”. The group also warned there were “significant holes” in the draft plans. “Firms could still pay influencers to promote risky investments,” it said. Finance Watch in September raised concerns about financial influencers and the risks to consumers posed by “misleading” information.