The Digital Fairness Act seeks to combat unfair digital practices and enhance consumer protection in online environments. It represents a key EU initiative to bolster user trust, promote responsible digital design, and ensure that digital markets operate in ways that protect consumers while supporting innovation and competitiveness across Europe.
CME supports the overall goal of strengthening fairness and consumer protection online. At the same time, we emphasise the importance of ensuring that any new measures build on the EU’s existing legislative framework, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), while fully taking into account the operational realities of online classifieds marketplaces, which facilitate safe, purpose-driven transactions and contribute to sustainable consumption.
To focus on an effective enforcement, proportionality, and consumer empowerment, CME recommends that the European Commission:
- Prioritise consistent enforcement of existing legislation to avoid duplication and legal uncertainty;
- Adopt a proportionate, risk-based framework that reflects the diversity of business models and the low-risk nature of many platforms;
- Invest in consumer education and awareness as key pillars of digital fairness and empowerment.
