Digital Fairness Act: the Commission wants to open up the black box of platform design
The DSA did not go far enough. With the future Digital Fairness Act, the Commission is exploring a large-scale age verification system, possibly via the digital identity wallet, while considering tightening rules on designs deemed addictive and targeted advertising to minors. We can expect a technical text with explosive political implications. In the fall of 2026, the European Commission is set to present its proposal for a « Digital Fairness Act » (DFA). Officially, the initiative has two objectives: to strengthen consumer protection and to « simplify the rules for businesses, » according to the Commission’s page dedicated to the revision of consumer law. But the first « scoping » hearing held on January 26, 2026, in the European Parliament’s IMCO committee already illustrates a paradox: the more Brussels promises…