The European Tech Alliance (EUTA) has joined a broad coalition of business associations in calling on the European Commission to reset the course of the upcoming Digital Fairness Act. Europe does not need more digital rules, it needs the existing ones to be fully enforced. The DFA’s preparatory work points towards additional layers of regulation in areas already extensively covered by European law, which risks contradicting the political commitments of simplification and competitiveness.
Ensuring consistent enforcement before considering new legislation
The solution is not another legislative layer. EUTA and co-signatories call for stronger, consistent enforcement to be the leading priority, through better coordination between national authorities and, where needed, at EU level. A revised Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation is a necessary first step before considering new legislation.
Protecting consumers by ensuring digital rules work together
Equally, the European Commission should clarify how existing frameworks interact, including the interplay between consumer protection rules (UCPD, CRD, UCTD) and the digital rulebook (GDPR, DSA, DMA, AI Act). Greater legal certainty in this regard would benefit both consumers and businesses. Rather than layering new obligations, the focus should be on ensuring that existing rules do not overlap, conflict, or unnecessarily increase compliance costs. Considering a DFA prior to the completion of the Digital Fitness Check would be premature.
The following can be attributed to the European Tech Alliance’s Secretary General, Victoria de Posson:
“Europe does not need more rules: it needs clearer and properly enforced rules. Simplifying and implementing existing laws will boost competitiveness and consumer trust.”
“If some rogue companies are ignoring the 10+ piece of legislation on dark patterns because they are not enforced properly, adding another one will not change a thing. Stronger enforcement, not more laws, is what really brings change to ensure high consumer protection.”
The following can be attributed to the European Tech Alliance’s Policy Officer, Guénolé Carré:
“The Digital Fairness Act can deliver real value if it focuses on enforcement and coherence, duplicating rules that already exist.”
“A reset of the DFA should turn complexity into clarity, strengthen the Single Market and deliver on the EU’s simplification agenda.”
About the European Tech Alliance
EUTA represents leading European tech companies that provide innovative products and services to more than one billion users. Our 36 EUTA member companies from 16 European countries are popular and have earned the trust of consumers. As companies born and bred in Europe, for whom the EU is a crucial market, we have a deep commitment to European citizens and values.
With the right conditions, our companies can strengthen Europe’s resilience and technological autonomy, protect and empower users online, and promote Europe’s values of transparency, rule of law and innovation to the rest of the world.
The EUTA calls for boosting Europe’s tech competitiveness by having an ambitious EU tech strategy to overcome growth obstacles, making a political commitment to clear, targeted and risk-based rules, and enforcing rules consistently to match the globalised market we are in.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Victoria de Posson, EUTA Secretary General
E-mail: victoria@eutechalliance.eu
E-mail: info@eutechalliance.eu
Phone: +32 476 25 08 16
www.eutechalliance.eu
