EU Commission Publishes Biennual Report on Consumer Protection

The European Commission’s biennial report on the actions carried out under the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation details efforts aimed at protecting consumer interests in the EU.

Key Actions by the CPC Network

• Mutual Assistance Requests: A significant increase with 440 requests, marking a 41% rise from the previous period.
• Alerts and Sweeps: A total of 93 alerts were issued, covering issues like dark patterns and misleading price reductions during Black Friday. Sweeps focused on influencers and car rental intermediaries.
• Digital Markets: Major actions involved platforms like Wish, Shopify, Amazon, Google, and Vinted, addressing issues from misleading discounts to data transparency.

Specific Enforcement Actions

• Influencer Marketing: A 2023 sweep of 576 influencers revealed 80% did not disclose commercial activities properly. The European Commission launched an Influencer Legal Hub for compliance.
• Car Rental Intermediaries: 55% of 78 websites checked were non-compliant with transparency requirements.
• Green Transition: Actions against Nintendo and Zalando addressed product durability and misleading environmental claims.

Cooperation and Capacity Building

• EU and International Cooperation: Collaborative efforts with BEUC, CENTR, and the US FTC on issues like greenwashing and online fraud.
• Capacity Development: Initiatives like the eLab provided CPC authorities with advanced tools for online investigations, and the e-enforcement Academy offered extensive training.

Market Trends and Future Challenges

• AI and Chatbots: Increasing concerns about consumer awareness and regulatory compliance.
• Greenwashing: Rising scrutiny on sustainability claims, especially in sectors like airlines and plastic products.
• Online Fraud: Persistent issues with scams and identity theft, with a significant emotional and financial toll on consumers.

Read the press release here.