Consumer rights

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Reports
- PDF Document - 3.08 MB

Available in English
This document provides a summary of the dark patterns observed on the selected SHEIN websites and app between November 2024 and May 2025. The products seen in the screenshots have been randomly selected, with a variety of clothes and accessories, to show the widespread use of dark patters - irrespective of product.
Factsheets
- PDF Document - 405.86 KB

Available in English
The fast fashion industry uses dark patterns (manipulative techniques) to prompt consumers into buying more and more clothing. This costs them money, exposes them to harmful chemicals, and has a major environmental and societal impact. SHEIN has rapidly emerged as the most egregious example of the use of dark patterns. The following research from BEUC members highlights how consumers are being deceived by these practices into overconsumption.
Press release
- PDF Document - 216.99 KB

Available in English
BEUC – together with 25 members from 21 countries – filed a complaint today with the European Commission and European consumer protection authorities against SHEIN for its use of deceptive techniques (‘dark patterns’). These push consumers into purchasing more than originally intended and fuel the environmental and societal problems caused by the fast fashion industry.
Reports
- PDF Document - 2.98 MB

Available in English
Based on new research, including studies by BEUC members across Europe, this report reveals how deceptive techniques (‘dark patterns’) trigger unwilling spending and economic losses for consumers, fuel the circulation of unsafe clothing items across Europe, and disempower consumers in their efforts towards the green transition.
Press release

Today, BEUC and 16 member organisations from 12 countries filed a complaint to the European Commission and the Consumer Protection authorities’ network (CPC) denouncing seven airlines charging undue fees to consumers for their hand baggage. We are calling for an EU-wide investigation into the commercial practices of the targeted airlines and the wider sector.
Reports
- PDF Document - 648.51 KB

Available in English
BEUC and 16 member organisations from 12 countries filed a complaint to the European Commission and the Consumer Protection authorities’ network (CPC) denouncing seven airlines charging undue fees to consumers for their hand baggage. We are calling for an EU-wide investigation into the commercial practices of the targeted airlines and the wider sector.

The world is changing fast. The green transition and digitalisation are trends that are having - and will have - a significant impact on consumers. BEUC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure consumers are front and centre in a greener and more digital Europe.

The EU’s flagship climate programme - the European Green Deal - will bring big changes for consumers, whether it is greener and more durable products or energy efficient home renovation. Consumer buy-in will be central to the Green Deal’s success and BEUC’s work is centred around ensuring the green transition is both affordable and accessible to all consumers. 

The digitalisation of the economy is also posing challenges to consumer protection. BEUC is leading efforts to ensure that EU consumer law adequately protects consumers in today’s digital world, whether it’s protection from ‘dark patterns,’ unfair online advertising and privacy-intrusive profiling and personalisation, or when dealing with connected products.

Efforts to ensure consumer protection in the green and digital transitions go hand-in-hand with wider efforts to strengthen consumer rights, such as the right to meaningful information, protection against unfair terms and practices, or the right to remedy when things go wrong.

BEUC is also working to ensure passengers – across all modes of transport – and travellers enjoy strong and enforceable rights, including for multimodal journeys. BEUC will also ensure that passengers are protected against airline insolvency and that there is a review of pre-payment business models in the tourism sector, which have proved unsustainable in times of crisis.

  • Continue to update and modernise EU consumer law as society becomes increasingly digitalised:
    • Meet challenges of consumer protection by strengthening consumer rights, such as the rights to receive correct information, to not be misled, to be protected against unfair terms and unfair practices, or to have remedies available in case of faulty goods
    • Consumers should have effective remedies available if traders breach EU consumer law
  • EU air passenger rights legislation improved and completed. Legislation must be better enforced to ensure the difficulties consumers face when travelling by air are reduced
  • Defend the consumer voice during the EU’s fitness check of consumer law (REFIT)
  • Make sure consumers are protected when it comes to who is liable for a defective product