On November 19, 2025, the European Commission unveiled its 2030 Consumer Agenda, setting out priorities for EU consumer policy over the next five years. Below is an overview of the six key measures most relevant to industry.Continue Reading European Commission Announces 2030 Consumer Policy Strategy
Help Shape the Future of EU Product Compliance: Participate in the Public Consultations
On November 12, 2025, the European Commission launched two public consultations that could significantly reshape EU product compliance rules. To participate, stakeholders – including businesses, consumer groups, and industry associations – are invited to complete the Commission’s online questionnaires, available until February 4, 2026.Continue Reading Help Shape the Future of EU Product Compliance: Participate in the Public Consultations
EDPB to Focus on Transparency in 2026 Enforcement
On October 14, 2025, the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) announced that its 2026 coordinated enforcement action (“CEA”) will focus on transparency and information obligations — the rules that require organizations to clearly explain how they collect, use, and share personal data — under Articles 12-14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).Continue Reading EDPB to Focus on Transparency in 2026 Enforcement
New German Guidelines on GDPR Requirements for International Transfers of Health Data in Medical Research
On September 17, 2025, the German Supervisory Authorities (Konferenz der unabhängigen Datenschutzaufsichtsbehörden des Bundes und der Länder, DSK) published new guidelines and recommendations addressing the complex requirements for transferring personal data, particularly health data (including health data contained in biomaterials), to countries outside of the European Economic Area for scientific research purposes under the GDPR. These guidelines may be of particular relevance for pharmaceutical, medical device, and other life sciences companies that conduct clinical research.Continue Reading New German Guidelines on GDPR Requirements for International Transfers of Health Data in Medical Research
Brazil Adopts Law Protecting Minors Online
On September 17, 2025, Brazil enacted the Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent (“Digital ECA”), establishing a pioneering regulatory framework for protecting children (under 12 years of age) and adolescents (between the ages of 12 and 18) online. Brazil’s Congress approved the new law in a matter of just a few days in response to parents’ pressure, after a well-known Brazilian digital influencer published a series of online videos on the “adultization” of children on the internet.Continue Reading Brazil Adopts Law Protecting Minors Online
Commission Collects Feedback to Simplify Rules on Data, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence in Upcoming Digital Omnibus
On September 16, 2025, the European Commission launched a call for evidence to collect feedback and best practices on simplifying several key areas of the EU digital rulebook, ahead of its planned Digital Omnibus package. This initiative targets legislation related to data, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and compliance costs for businesses while preserving high standards of fairness, security, and privacy online.Continue Reading Commission Collects Feedback to Simplify Rules on Data, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence in Upcoming Digital Omnibus
European Commission and Brazil Advance Towards Mutual Adequacy Decision
On September 5, 2025, the European Commission announced the launch of the process to adopt an adequacy decision with Brazil under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), determining that Brazil ensures an adequate level of personal data protection comparable to that in the EU. Once adopted, the decision would permit personal data to flow freely between Brazil and the EU without the need for additional safeguards, covering flows from businesses, public authorities, and research projects.
The Brazilian federal government, through the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD), announced that it is simultaneously progressing on adopting an equivalent adequacy decision to facilitate the uninterrupted flow of data from Brazil to the EU. The parallel initiatives highlight a mutual commitment to aligning privacy and data protection standards across the Atlantic, and take place in a context of closer bilateral relations and increased U.S. scrutiny of Brazilian and European digital policies.Continue Reading European Commission and Brazil Advance Towards Mutual Adequacy Decision
European Parliament Study Recommends Strict Liability Regime for High-Risk AI Systems
On July 24, 2025, the European Parliament (EP) published a study entitled Artificial Intelligence and Civil Liability – A European Perspective. The study considers some of the EU’s existing and proposed liability frameworks, notably the revised Product Liability Directive (PLDr) and the AI Liability Directive (AILD), which was proposed by the European Commission only to be later withdrawn. The study concludes that neither instrument sufficiently addresses the full scope of product liability risks and defects uniquely posed by high-risk AI systems, as that concept is defined by the EU AI Act. Therefore, it calls for the creation of a dedicated strict liability framework, specifically designed to tackle the particular liability risks that these systems are said to give rise to. While it is too early to predict whether other key European stakeholders will support such a framework and bring it to fruition, this development is an important one to monitor closely for those creating or working with high-risk AI systems.Continue Reading European Parliament Study Recommends Strict Liability Regime for High-Risk AI Systems
Digital Fairness Act Series — Topic 4: Digital Subscriptions
Digital contracts and subscriptions have significantly increased, with the subscription economy tripling since 2017, according to the European Commission’s Digital Fairness Act Fitness Check. However, the Fitness Check points out that the number of issues with digital subscriptions, such as difficult cancellations, automatic renewals without reminders, and unclear subscription terms, have also increased. The Commission proposes to tackle these issues in its proposed Digital Fairness Act (“DFA”), which recently entered its consultation phase (see our blog post here).
This post briefly highlights certain issues with digital subscriptions identified in the Fitness Check, outlines how these issues are currently regulated in the EU, and considers the Fitness Check’s proposals to address these issues. It is the fourth post in our series on the upcoming DFA – previous posts covered influencer marketing, AI chatbots in consumer interactions, and personalised advertising and pricing.Continue Reading Digital Fairness Act Series — Topic 4: Digital Subscriptions
Help Shape the New EU Consumer Protection Law: Join the Public Consultation on the Digital Fairness Act
On July 17, 2025, the European Commission launched a “call for evidence” and public consultation on the Digital Fairness Act (“DFA”), an anticipated new consumer protection law. The Commission seeks feedback on existing EU consumer protection laws and on proposals for how the DFA could address the following two problems with the existing laws, as identified through a “Fitness Check” of EU consumer law published in October 2024:
- Lack of digital fairness for consumers. This particularly affects vulnerable groups such as minors, offering them suboptimal choices that can lead to financial harm, loss of time, negative health impacts, and indirect effects like environmental costs.
- Unclear rules for businesses and market fragmentation. This results in increased business costs, hampers cross-border trade, leads to missed opportunities, and causes unfair competition, particularly from non-EU traders.
The Commission has also emphasized its objective to enhance the EU’s competitiveness, aiming for simplification of consumer protection rules and the removal of barriers within the EU Market. This includes efforts to achieve greater legal certainty regarding unfair commercial practices. The goal is to address enforcement deficiencies, regulatory gaps, and market fragmentation, as some Member States have regulated or are considering new regulation in these areas.Continue Reading Help Shape the New EU Consumer Protection Law: Join the Public Consultation on the Digital Fairness Act