EU Prepares Digital Justice Law to Ban Dark Patterns and Impose Fines Up to 6% of Revenue

EU's Upcoming Digital Justice Legislation

According to НВ — Техно: The European Union is developing a Digital Justice Law aimed at empowering users to manage social media features that encourage addictive behavior. Expected to be introduced by the European Commission on November 10, 2026, this legislation will also impose limits on artificial intelligence usage and allow fines of up to 6% of a platform’s global revenue. The law is anticipated to take effect no earlier than late 2028, following approval by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

Key Provisions of the Proposed Law

Among the central measures is granting users the option to disable certain social media functionalities, such as auto-playing videos, which can lead to excessive usage. Article 17 specifically addresses this feature. The bill also identifies ten prohibited manipulative tactics, including:

• fake product stock counters,
• pre-selected checkboxes,
• intrusive pop-up windows,
• complex cancellation processes.

These restrictions target so-called "dark patterns"-design tricks used to manipulate user behavior.

Protecting minors from targeted advertising is another major focus. The law bans profile-based ads when there is reasonable suspicion that the user is underage. In children’s video games, virtual currency will be disabled by default, and mechanics like loot boxes and pay-to-win purchases will be prohibited to safeguard young players online.

Recent EU consumer protection research found that 97% of analyzed websites and apps employ at least one dark pattern, causing annual consumer losses estimated at €7.9 billion. In 2026, the European Commission already filed complaints against TikTok and Meta for user retention designs under the Digital Services Act. The new regulations will significantly impact major tech firms such as Meta, Google, and TikTok, underscoring the importance of this legislation in improving Europe’s digital landscape.

This Digital Justice Law has the potential to transform how social networks and online services operate in Europe, promoting greater transparency and user control while protecting individuals from manipulative platform tactics. Given the widespread challenges consumers face, adopting this law could mark a vital step toward a fairer and more ethical digital environment.

As the EU moves towards stricter regulations on social media practices, other regions are also taking significant steps to protect younger users. For instance, starting in 2027, Greece plans to prohibit children under 15 from accessing platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This initiative reflects a growing global awareness of the need to safeguard minors in the digital landscape. To learn more about Greece's upcoming restrictions on social media usage for children, read our detailed article on the matter.