| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to provide for the regulation of competition in digital markets; to amend the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 and to make other provision about competition law; to make provision relating to the protection of consumer rights and to confer further such rights; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2024 c. 13 |
| Introduced by | Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Commons) The Lord Offord of Garvel, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports (Lords) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 May 2024 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[1] It amends the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002.[1]
A government press release described it as an act to "stamp out unfair practices and promote competition in digital markets".[2] The act also introduced significant reforms to the enforcement of consumer protection laws. The act further bans subscription traps, fake reviews and drip pricing.[3][4] Amendments at Third Reading in the House of Lords banned foreign states from having control or influence in the UK media.
The act gives statutory definitions to different things including subscription contracts.[5]
In respect of digital markets regulation, it is the British counterpart to the European Union's Digital Markets Act and empowers the Competition and Markets Authority (which has established a Digital Markets Unit) to regulate firms designated as having "strategic market status".
The bill for the act passed Third Reading in the Lords on 26 March 2024, and received royal assent on 24 May 2024. Other than administrative provisions, it will not come into effect until the Secretary of State signs a commencement order.[6]
- ^ a b "Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill". bills.parliament.uk. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "New bill to stamp out unfair practices and promote competition in digital markets". GOV.UK. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "New law banning subscription traps and fake reviews to be introduced". Business Matters. 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "New consumer law to tackle drip pricing". www.farrer.co.uk. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Subscription traps: new laws on the way". www.penningtonslaw.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ Section 339 Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024