Europe is about to get very tough on loot boxes in games, according to a leaked draft of the landmark Digital Fairness Act

Live updates

1. 51m ago

   EU Draft Law Targets Loot Boxes, Dark Patterns, and Tech Penalties

   The European Union is preparing strict regulations targeting video game loot boxes, addictive social media features, and manipulative online design traits known as dark patterns. A leaked draft of the upcoming Digital Fairness Act shows that companies violating these new online trade practices face severe penalties, including fines reaching up to six percent of global turnover. The sweeping legislative push addresses consumer protection concerns across digital commerce platforms, affecting various popular services and applications as Brussels moves forward with Big Tech oversight.

   Why it matters

   The upcoming Digital Fairness Act represents a major legislative effort by Brussels to reshape digital consumer protection despite broader commitments to reduce bureaucratic red tape. Regulators are focusing heavily on manipulative interface designs and engagement loops that exploit user behavior across apps and video games. This initiative brings prominent digital platforms and services directly under scrutiny for unfair trade practices.

   What is confirmed

   • A leaked draft of the European Union Digital Fairness Act targets loot boxes and addictive game design.
   • Companies risk fines of six percent of global turnover for unfair digital trade practices under the draft law.
   • The European Union plans to blacklist ten online design traps.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Specific platforms such as Duolingo, Strava, and Ticketmaster are caught up in the new digital fairness rules.

   What to watch next

   • Official unveiling of the Digital Fairness Act by Brussels
   • Further details on the ten blacklisted online design traps
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. Eurogamer.net — Europe is about to get very tough on loot boxes in games, according to a leaked draft of the landmark Digital Fairness Act
   2. Bloomberg.com — EU Plans Crackdown on Addictive Social Media and AI Bot Features
   3. Reuters — Companies risk fines of 6% global turnover for unfair digital trade practices, EU draft law shows
   4. Euronews.com — EU to blacklist ten online design 'traps', leaked draft shows
   5. PocketGamer.biz — Leaked EU proposal targets loot boxes and addictive game design
   6. Financial Times — Brussels to unveil new Big Tech rules despite vow to slash red tape
   7. WSJ — EU Lays Out Plan to Tighten Online Consumer Protection Rules
   8. Bloomberg.com — EU Targets Social Media Addiction and Online ‘Dark Patterns’
   9. politico.eu — Brussels takes on the evils of online commerce
   10. WIRED — Duolingo, Strava, and Ticketmaster Are All Caught Up in EU’s New Digital Fairness Rules
   11. Reuters — EU threatens significant fines for unfair online trade practices
   confidence 95%