The European Commission is preparing new digital rules aimed at shielding consumers from online "spending traps," according to reporting by Laura Dubois in the Financial Times.
EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath said Brussels intends to propose the measures by the end of the year. As summarized by the Financial Times, the effort is designed to protect people from manipulative online practices that can push them into unwanted or excessive spending.
McGrath also said the plan seeks to strengthen safeguards around social media, though the source item does not spell out the specific mechanisms, platforms, or penalties involved.
The details reported so far are limited. What's clear is the timeline — a proposal expected before year-end — and the broad intent: consumer protection in digital marketplaces and stronger social media protections, with Brussels driving the initiative.
Because this is a proposal rather than a finished law, it would still need to move through the EU's legislative process before taking effect. The exact rules, their scope, and how they would be enforced remain to be seen once the Commission publishes its plan.
Why it matters: if adopted, these rules could reshape how online platforms and retailers are allowed to design their services across the EU, affecting how hundreds of millions of consumers shop and spend online.