Trends

The EU proposes a Digital Fairness Act: what it targets

The European Commission put forward new rules aimed at dark patterns, addictive design and subscriptions that are hard to cancel. It is a proposal, not yet law.

By Yemini Team, 2026-11-13

On 11 November the European Commission proposed a Digital Fairness Act. It is a proposal, so it still has to go through the EU's lawmaking process before it changes anything. What it is aiming at According to reporting on the proposal, the rules target the design tricks that push people into choices they did not mean to make: Dark patterns, such as buttons and screens built to mislead you. Addictive design, meaning features made to keep you scrolling or tapping. Unclear pricing, where the real cost only appears at the end. Exploitative personalisation, where data about you is used against your interests. Subscriptions that are hard to cancel. Why people outside Europe should care Rules written for a large market often change how apps are built everywhere, because it is easier to ship one design than many. If a cancel button has to be as easy to find as the buy button in Europe, many apps will do it for everyone. A practical test Whatever happens in Brussels, you can judge any app today with three questions. Is the price clear before you commit? Can you leave as easily as you joined? Does it ask only for the data it needs? These are the standards we hold Yemini apps to.