The EU withdrawal button is coming: new rules and what retailers must change
To strengthen protections for consumers buying online, the EU has introduced new requirements that make it simpler to cancel (withdraw from) online consumer contracts. This arises from the requirements of Directive (EU) 2023/2673, and its key change is a mandatory electronic withdrawal feature, or a “withdrawal button”.
Price transparency under the DMCCA: key takeaways for businesses
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has finalised its price transparency guidance under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) and updated its guidance on unfair commercial practices (UCPs) to reflect the new rules.
CMA launches major consumer-protection drive focused on online pricing practices
Since April, the CMA has been carrying out a sector-wide review of pricing transparency, examining how more than 400 businesses across 19 industries present prices, promotions and fees to consumers. Building on this work, the regulator has now opened investigations into a series of practices it views as presenting the greatest risk to consumers.
Black Friday to Christmas: Key EU Legal Rules for Online Promotions
With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas sales approaching, online businesses can expect increased customer activity. These periods offer strong sales opportunities, but they also bring additional legal obligations.
The Online Safety Act and the Digital Services Act: A Comparative Overview for Online Platforms
As online platforms continue to shape our social, commercial and cultural lives, governments are tightening their oversight of digital services. The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) and the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) are two landmark legislative frameworks that share a common objective: to make the internet safer and more accountable.
Online Safety Act in Action: Ofcom Targets Platforms Failing to Block Child Abuse Material
The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has taken further enforcement action under the Online Safety Act (OSA), showing how it plans to respond to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and impose financial penalties on non-compliant service providers.
Drip pricing ban: what online businesses need to know
A customer books a hotel online. The headline price looks great, £120 for two nights in London. They add it to their basket, enter their details, and head to checkout. Then the extras appear: a “weekend surcharge”, a service fee, and a compulsory delivery charge for booking confirmation. By the time they click “pay”, the bill has climbed to nearly £200. Multiply that experience across thousands of transactions, and it’s easy to see why regulators are now stepping in.
UK’s Online Safety: Ofcom Fines OnlyFans Provider £1.05 Million
The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) introduces a new legal framework to make the internet safer, especially for children. It places firm duties on online service providers to prevent and remove harmful or illegal content. A recent case involving OnlyFans demonstrates that Ofcom takes the enforcement of the OSA and other online safety regulations seriously. Fenix International Limited, the company behind OnlyFans, was fined £1.05 million for providing inaccurate information about its age verification processes.
Ofcom Initiates First Investigation into Individual Service Provider Under Online Safety Act
Ofcom has opened its first formal investigation into an online service provider under the Online Safety Act (OSA). The regulator is looking into whether the operator of an online forum has failed to meet its legal duties under the new law. Specifically, Ofcom is examining whether the provider has: