EU prepares law requiring social networks to give users a 'kill switch' for addictive features

The European Union intends to obligate social networks to provide users with the option to disable features that provoke excessive use of platforms. According to Bloomberg, the restrictions will also affect chatbots that mimic personal relationships and encourage people to continue interacting. The initiative is included in the draft "Digital Fairness Act," which is expected to be presented by the European Commission on Wednesday. The European Commission did not comment on the content of the document at the time of publication.

What will be subject to restrictions

According to the draft, adult users should be given the ability to independently disable interface features that contribute to obsessive or excessive platform usage. This refers to mechanisms aimed at retaining attention and increasing interaction time with the audience. The document specifically mentions chatbots that mimic personal relationships and stimulate the user to continue the dialogue—such services must also be brought into compliance with the new requirements.

Who may be affected by the rules

According to Bloomberg, the largest technology companies, including Meta, Google, and ByteDance (owner of TikTok), could fall under the new regulations, as their services actively use mechanics aimed at increasing interaction time with the audience. It is noted that the European Commission is already investigating Meta and TikTok over suspicions of using addictive design. These checks are being conducted under the "Digital Services Act" (DSA), which regulates the operation of internet platforms in the European Union.

Fines and control mechanisms

Corresponding requirements for disabling "addictive" features are provided for in the Digital Fairness Act draft. Companies could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue for violating the new rules. This level of sanctions is comparable to the maximum fines provided for in other key EU digital regulatory acts and is intended to ensure real enforceability of the requirements at the level of the largest corporations.

Child protection and 'safety by default'

In addition to requirements for adult users, the European Union intends to require social networks and artificial intelligence developers to create safe services by default. These provisions will be part of a broader "EU Kids Act," which also provides for restrictions on social media use by teenagers. Thus, the regulatory framework links two areas: control over "addictive" design for all users and enhanced protection for minors.

Status of the document and next steps

The Digital Fairness Act draft is scheduled to be presented on Wednesday; however, the European Commission has not yet commented on its content. Until the official publication of the text, the document remains a draft, and the final wording, the list of affected features, and the procedure for disabling them may change during the approval process. For tech companies, this means the need to evaluate their interfaces and chatbots for compliance with future requirements in advance to avoid fines of up to 6% of global revenue.