A Dutch MP has proposed a new law banning “the most harmful addictive design features” on digital services, such as infinitive scrolling, autoplay videos, push notifications and manipulative algorithms.
Barbara Kathmann, an MP from the Dutch Parliament’s main opposition party, the centre-left Progressief Nederland (PRO), submitted the proposal on Monday 2 November, saying the ban “protects both children and adults”.
BigTech platforms are facing mounting global pushback over concerns that their services are designed in harmful ways that encourage addiction and other destructive behaviours. Meta, TikTok and SnapChat, among others, have all been brought to court in recent years by rights groups.
Kathmann is working with parliamentarians across Europe in Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, and Portugal, who want to regulate digital platforms and address their alleged harmfully designed services.
“People need to regain control over their own time and attention. Manipulative tricks online can have a major impact on our mental and physical health, brain development and attention span, now and for future generations,” said Kathmann.
“The Netherlands must therefore show leadership now and be the first in the world to ban addictive design. We can only stand up to Big Tech’s manipulative tricks if we protect everyone.”
The proposed law would subject digital platforms to a “fairness by design” duty of care, requiring them to prove their online services are not addictive and instead make sure their features are designed to be “fair and non-manipulative”.
‘Addictive algorithms manipulate our minds’
This is not the first time a Dutch politician has submitted a proposal on the topic.
In 2023, a report by Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak, also from PRO, was adopted by the European Parliament calling for the European Commission to put forward a proposal for an addictive design ban.
She backed today’s proposal in the Dutch Parliament saying, “With this law, the Netherlands is taking the lead in Europe, and we can finally build a safe and non-addictive internet.
“No self-discipline can beat Big Tech’s addictive tricks. Every day that we fail to take action, we let addictive algorithms manipulate our minds and in the long run our democracies, as they keep offering the most extreme content to keep us hooked.
“And Europe is failing to take action. Companies like Meta are filling their pockets with money earned by exploiting your attention and the way you are wired, whilst the tech lobby is sharpening its knives to water down the rules.”
The Commission is due to table a proposal this November under its Digital Fairness Act, with a EU-wide addictive design ban a key measure among several others aimed at enhancing consumer protections in Europe.
The Act is complemented by other EU legislation in the pipeline, such as the EU Kids Act, which aims to protect children online by shifting the burden of responsibility from parents to digital platforms, requiring them to make their services safe by design.
The EU Digital Services Act, which has been in force since 2022, combines several measures requiring very large online platforms (VLOPS) such as Meta and very large online search engines (VLOSEs) like Google to detect, remove and prevent illegal content, hate speech and dangerous products.