Resolution criteria

This market will resolve to "Yes" if a legislative act titled "Digital Fairness Act," or a substantially similar title clearly identifiable as the initiative currently being developed by the European Commission, is formally adopted and published in the Official Journal of the European Union by December 31, 2028, 11:59 PM UTC. Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No."

The primary source for resolution will be the online version of the Official Journal of the European Union (eur-lex.europa.eu).

Background

The EU Digital Fairness Act is a forthcoming legislative proposal by the European Commission designed to bolster consumer protection in the digital realm. It aims to address issues such as manipulative interface designs ("dark patterns"), misleading influencer marketing, addictive design features, unfair personalization practices, and complex digital contracts. This initiative follows a 2024 Digital Fairness Fitness Check, which identified gaps in existing EU consumer laws. The public consultation had approximately approximately 3,000 responses submitted within the first two weeks, predominantly from video gamers responding to the Stop Killing Games initiative Digital Fairness Act - Wikipedia. A formal legislative proposal is anticipated in Q3 2026.

The Simplification Debate

The DFA has generated controversy amid "digital regulation fatigue." Industry groups argue it would duplicate existing regulations (UCPD, CRD, DSA, GDPR) and that EU consumer law already addresses these issues. This occurs as the EU pursues regulatory simplification, with a "digital omnibus" package expected by December 2025 and some member states advocating for prioritizing implementation of existing laws over new legislation. Consumer organizations support the DFA to tackle manipulative practices, particularly for vulnerable users. During consultations, businesses suggested guidelines over new rules, while consumer groups insisted on legislative intervention

Considerations

After the Commission proposes the DFA, it undergoes the ordinary legislative procedure with the European Parliament and Council—a multi-stage process that can extend over several years for complex topics.

The DFA faces headwinds from industry lobbying and the Commission's parallel simplification initiative, which could lead to withdrawal, scaling back, or delays. However, it has consumer group support and a political mandate from Commission President von der Leyen