Consumer protection has become a key policy focus in the EU, as policymakers modernize competition and consumer laws to reflect the realities of the digital economy. The EU has implemented landmark regulations designed to reshape the obligations of online platforms, focusing on promoting fair competition and enhancing user protections in digital markets. Key among these are the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). See Wilson Sonsini’s previous factsheets for more information on the DMA and DSA.Continue Reading EU Unveils Next Five-Year Consumer Protection Strategy

The UK’s antitrust and consumer agency—the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)—has announced its first enforcement actions under the country’s new consumer protection regime. On November 18, 2025, the CMA opened eight investigations into various pricing practices, issued advisory letters to 100 businesses across 14 sectors, and published new price transparency guidance. The actions send a clear message: the CMA is ready to deploy its new, enhanced powers to tackle business practices that it believes are the most harmful to consumers.Continue Reading Price Check: The UK’s New Consumer Protection Push

On September 12, 2025, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) adopted guidelines (Guidelines) on the interplay between the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Guidelines seek to clarify the data protection issues that regulated online services should take into account when seeking to comply with their obligations under the GDPR.Continue Reading EDPB Issues First Guidelines on the Interplay Between the Digital Services Act and the GDPR

On July 14, 2025, the European Commission (EC) published its guidelines (the Guidelines) on the protection of minors online. These Guidelines, which were initially released for consultation in May 2025, provide direction for online platforms on the steps they can take to comply with their duties to protect the privacy, safety, and security of minors under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). They focus on assessing and mitigating platform risks, the appropriate use of age assurance, and measures that should be taken to protect minors from manipulative commercial practices.Continue Reading European Commission Publishes DSA Guidelines on the Protection of Minors Online

Consumer protection in digital markets has become a major public concern in recent years, and the UK is the latest jurisdiction to introduce legislation aimed at enhancing protections online. The Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act (DMCCA or the Act) introduces significant overhauls to the UK’s legal framework, with implications for businesses with online operations.Continue Reading Consumer Protection in the UK: Update on Reforms Taking Effect in 2025 and 2026

On June 19, 2025, the UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 was enacted, marking the culmination of a lengthy legislative process aimed at reshaping aspects of the country’s data protection regime. First proposed in 2021 as part of a government strategy titled, “Data: a new direction,” the legislation has undergone several rounds of revision since its initial introduction. Its passage reflects the UK’s desire to diverge, in measured ways, from the EU’s approach to data regulation in the post-Brexit landscape.Continue Reading UK Introduces New Legislation Amending Privacy Laws

On May 13, 2025, the European Commission (EC) published draft guidelines on the protection of minors online. The guidelines outline the proposed measures that the EC expects online platforms accessible to minors to take to protect minors’ privacy, safety, and security in line with requirements under the Digital Services Act (DSA).Continue Reading EU Commission Launches DSA Consultation on the Protection of Minors Online