S&D Urges Strict Limits on Dark Patterns Online
The Socialists and Democrats group outlines priorities as the European Commission readies a wave of digital proposals.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Internet
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S&D members say they are not concerned by the backlog of forthcoming EU digital proposals. In a group position paper published on Thursday 5 November, the group called for strict measures against dark patterns, addictive features, and dynamic pricing.
Why it matters
The IMCO committee faces a growing number of European Commission digital proposals in the second Commission term. Laura Ballarín Cereza said the Digital Fairness Act is the right vehicle to fill gaps left by the Digital Services Act, noting that technology moves faster than laws.
The S&D group's position paper was published on 5 November, and the Digital Fairness Act is expected to be presented on 11 November. The extraction provides no quantitative comparators, and the exact measures the group will seek remain undefined.
The players
Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group
The S&D is the second-largest political group in the European Parliament, representing center-left parties from across the European Union.
Laura Ballarín Cereza
Ballarín Cereza is a Spanish S&D member and the group's coordinator on the Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee.
Alex Agius Saliba
Agius Saliba is a Maltese member of the European Parliament who serves as the S&D group's Vice-President responsible for digital affairs.
The details
The S&D group published a position paper calling for strict measures against deceptive interfaces, addictive features, and dynamic pricing. Laura Ballarín Cereza, the group's Spanish coordinator on the IMCO committee, identified the Digital Fairness Act and the 'Kids Act' as S&D priorities.
Timeline
September: The regulation on protecting minors online was presented.
Thursday 5 November: The S&D group published its digital position paper.
11 November: The Digital Fairness Act is expected to be presented.
Big Picture
The S&D group is positioning the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act as a follow-on to the Digital Services Act, arguing that rules on dark patterns, addictive design, and dynamic pricing need their own legislative vehicle. The push reflects a broader EU pattern of addressing online platform harms through successive targeted laws.
If adopted, rules against dark patterns and addictive features could change how online interfaces, subscriptions, and pricing are presented to users across the EU. Limits on dynamic pricing could affect how much consumers pay for the same products online.
The takeaway
Online shoppers and app users should watch for the Digital Fairness Act's release, since it may change how interfaces nudge purchases and how prices are set for different users. Until then, be wary of countdown timers, pre-checked boxes, and personalized pricing that pressure quick decisions.
What happens next
The European Commission is expected to present the Digital Fairness Act on 11 November, which will determine whether the S&D group's proposed measures are reflected in EU law.
Further reading
For more on how online platforms are regulated across borders, explore the Internet section.
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