CPB Campaign Success:
GOVERNMENT ADOPTS TOUGHER CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS UNDER
STRENGTHENED DIGITAL MARKETS ACT
The Consumer Protection Bureau (CPB) is proud to declare a major victory for consumers and a direct success of our recent campaigns aimed at strengthening transparency, fairness, and accountability across UK markets. We welcome the UK Government’s adoption of tougher consumer protection measures under the newly reinforced Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, and applaud the leadership of Justin Madders MP, Minister for Competition and Markets, for taking decisive action.
This legislation reflects several key reforms that CPB has persistently called for, including:
- A legal ban on fake and manipulated reviews, ensuring platforms are held responsible for the accuracy of consumer feedback
- The outlawing of hidden charges, including undeclared service charges in restaurant bills, concealed broadband installation costs, and hidden air fare surcharges
- A crackdown on FOMO-based (fear of missing out) pricing tactics, which exploit psychological pressure to push unnecessary spending
These reforms are a clear response to CPB’s national campaigns, including our high-profile challenge to restaurant chains that failed to disclose automatic service charges and misled customers into tipping on top. They bring the law in line with the reality of today’s digital marketplaces, and empower consumers with greater clarity, control, and confidence in their everyday purchases. For too long, consumers have been left in the dark- paying more than advertised, more than expected, and more than fair. This ends now.
This is more than a policy win—it is a wake-up call to businesses, platforms, and service providers that the era of murky charges and manipulated markets is over. CPB will continue to monitor enforcement, report violations, and push for robust penalties against offenders.
The strengthened Digital Markets Act is a major step forward—and a testament to the power of public advocacy, regulatory pressure, and CPB’s continued commitment to defending consumers.
Our recent severe warning to TrustPilot highlighted the platform’s persistent failure to remove fake reviews or penalise offenders. Such negligence erodes trust and skews honest competition. With this new law, digital platforms are put on formal notice: protect consumers or face consequences.
CPB stands ready to support enforcement and will continue to monitor compliance closely. We remain committed to pushing for the strictest possible penalties for any business, marketplace, or platform that breaches these new rules.
This is a watershed moment for consumer protection—and a strong signal that the voices of consumers, amplified by CPB, are being heard at the highest levels of government.
Government Press Release
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