The European Union is making bold moves to reshape the digital landscape—and if you’re a consumer, developer, or platform operator, you’ll want to pay attention. Two major regulatory shifts are now underway: the proposed Digital Fairness Act and the activation of key provisions in the EU AI Act. Together, they signal a new era of transparency, accountability, and ethical design in the digital economy.
The EU’s consultation on the Digital Fairness Act is more than a policy tweak—it’s a philosophical pivot. For years, consumer-facing platforms have relied on various, manipulative User Interface and UX tactics known as dark patterns—those deceptive nudges that trick users into subscriptions, data sharing, or impulsive purchases. The new act aims to outlaw these practices and restore user agency.
Key proposals include:
This is a big step-up in consumer protection, and for developers and marketers, it’s a call to rethink engagement strategies around trust, not trickery.
Starting August 2, 2025, the EU’s AI Act begins applying to general-purpose AI models—the kind that power everything from chatbots to recommendation engines. Providers must now meet rigorous standards for transparency, safety, and human oversight.
What’s changing:
This is a watershed moment. The EU isn’t just regulating AI—it’s operationalizing ethics. For developers, it means building with foresight. For consumers, it means knowing what’s under the hood.
As an organization who has spent over a decade at the intersection of enterprise systems, privacy-first innovation, and ethical tech, we see these developments as overdue—and transformative. The EU is setting a precedent that other regions will likely follow. If you’re building digital products, now is the time to audit your design choices, data practices, and AI pipelines.
Because fairness isn’t just a feature—it’s the future.
At Purism, we have long adhered to our published Digital Bill of Rights—Digital Civil Rights—Purist Principles. We live by these principles and wish to provide alternatives to privacy-seeking individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide.
Model | Status | Lead Time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Librem Key (Made in USA) | In Stock ($59+) | 10 business days | |
![]() | Liberty Phone (Made in USA Electronics) | In Stock ($1,999+) 4GB/128GB | 10 business days | |
![]() | Librem 5 | In Stock ($799+) 3GB/32GB | 10 business days | |
![]() | Librem 11 | Backorder ($999+) 8GB/1TB | 10 business days | |
![]() | Librem 14 | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
![]() | Librem Mini | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
![]() | Librem Server | In Stock ($2,999+) | 45 business days |