Consent Banners and Dark Patterns: Latest Enforcement Trends in the EU

Consent banners and dark patterns have become a focal point for privacy regulators across the European Union. As digital platforms increasingly rely on user data for monetization and personalization, concerns have grown around how consent is collected and whether it’s truly informed and freely given. Regulators are now taking a closer look at the mechanics of consent banners and the manipulation tactics embedded within them—known as dark patterns.

In recent years, enforcement actions have surged as the EU moves to uphold the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive. With the rise of sophisticated user interface designs that nudge users toward accepting tracking or sharing personal data, the spotlight is firmly on how these interfaces are constructed and what constitutes lawful consent. This article explores the latest enforcement trends, the legal context, and what it all means for platform operators and digital marketers.

The Legal Framework for Consent Banners and Dark Patterns

GDPR and ePrivacy: Setting the Rules

The GDPR sets the standard for what constitutes valid consent: it must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. Meanwhile, the ePrivacy Directive complements these rules, especially in the context of electronic communications and cookie usage. Consent banners fall squarely within this intersection.

Dark patterns—design practices that trick users into making decisions they wouldn’t otherwise make—are particularly problematic under the GDPR. Whether it’s hiding the “reject” button, using emotional language to encourage acceptance, or presenting choices in unequal visual formats, these patterns undermine genuine user autonomy.

Key Regulatory Guidance

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and national data protection authorities (DPAs) have issued specific guidance on consent mechanisms. These include:

• Equal prominence for “accept” and “reject” options.
• No pre-ticked boxes or default settings.
• Easy and accessible ways to withdraw consent.

Platforms using manipulative interfaces to gather consent are now at high risk of investigation and enforcement.

How Consent Banners and Dark Patterns Are Being Regulated

Rise in Investigations and Sanctions

Since 2022, there has been a significant uptick in enforcement actions related to consent banners and dark patterns. Authorities in France, Germany, Ireland, and others have levied fines and issued corrective orders to major tech companies and local businesses alike.

In 2022, the French data protection authority CNIL fined Google and Facebook a combined €210 million for making it more difficult to reject cookies than to accept them. Similarly, the Norwegian DPA fined a dating app for using misleading language and default settings that steered users toward consent.

These cases set important precedents, signaling that regulators will no longer tolerate consent banners designed to exploit user psychology.

Joint Investigations and Cross-Border Coordination

Given the cross-border nature of many digital platforms, European DPAs are increasingly working together. Under the GDPR’s one-stop-shop mechanism, lead supervisory authorities are taking the initiative to address violations that impact users in multiple countries.

For instance, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), as the lead authority for many tech giants, has launched multiple investigations into whether consent banners meet the legal threshold—especially in mobile apps and websites with complex tracking infrastructures.

The Role of the European Commission

In parallel, the European Commission has voiced support for stricter regulation of dark patterns, aligning with broader efforts to protect consumers online. The Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into force in 2024, explicitly bans certain manipulative interfaces, reinforcing the GDPR’s principles with additional consumer protections.

Common Types of Dark Patterns in Consent Banners

Visual and Structural Asymmetry

One common tactic is making the “accept all” button more prominent than the “reject” or “manage settings” options. This can include using brighter colors, larger buttons, or placing options in hard-to-spot corners of the screen.

Forced Continuity and Ambiguity

Platforms often present banners with vague language or confusing structures. Users may be led to believe they must accept cookies to access content, even when alternatives are available.

Misleading Language and Emotion

Consent banners sometimes use emotionally charged or guilt-inducing language to push users toward acceptance—phrases like “support us by accepting cookies” or “help keep this service free” are classic examples.

Hidden Settings

Consent mechanisms may include buried opt-out settings, requiring multiple clicks to refuse consent. Regulators have ruled that such friction undermines the principle of freely given consent.

Impact on Businesses and Platform Design

Legal and Reputational Risk

Companies that fail to redesign their consent banners face not only hefty fines but also reputational harm. Consumers are becoming more privacy-aware, and platforms that ignore usability and transparency risk alienating their user base.

Regulatory penalties can reach up to 4% of a company’s annual global turnover under the GDPR. Additionally, class actions and civil litigation are becoming more common, adding another layer of exposure.

The Need for Privacy-Centric UX

UX and legal teams must now work together to create interfaces that are both compliant and user-friendly. Designing consent banners that truly empower users rather than coerce them is key.

This includes:

• Offering clear choices with equal visual weight.
• Using plain language to explain data practices.
• Providing easy access to settings for withdrawal or modification of consent.

Shifting Toward Standardization and Best Practices

Emerging Industry Standards

Industry bodies, such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Europe, have launched frameworks like the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) to help standardize consent across digital advertising. However, these frameworks have also faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny. In 2023, the Belgian DPA declared that the IAB’s TCF did not comply with the GDPR, emphasizing that technical standards must also respect legal principles.

New Tools and Technologies

Privacy tech solutions are emerging to help companies manage consent in a compliant way. Consent management platforms (CMPs) now include features like A/B testing for banner designs, automated audit logs, and real-time user preference updates.

However, simply installing a CMP isn’t enough—platforms must ensure these tools are configured in line with regulatory expectations.

What Comes Next: Future of Enforcement in the EU

A Focus on Behavioral Targeting

As regulators continue to focus on consent banners and dark patterns, particular attention is being paid to behavioral advertising. The widespread use of tracking technologies and user profiling means that obtaining genuine consent is more critical than ever.

Es es probable que los reguladores intensifiquen su control sobre los flujos de consentimiento manipuladores en los ecosistemas publicitarios, donde los datos a menudo se comparten entre decenas de terceros.

Mayor Papel de la DSA

La Ley de Servicios Digitales introduce normas más estrictas para las plataformas en línea muy grandes (VLOP), que incluyen obligaciones de transparencia y requisitos de auditoría. Los avisos de consentimiento utilizados por estas plataformas se someterán a un estándar más alto, especialmente en lo que respecta a los sistemas de recomendación y la moderación de contenido.

Litigios y reparación colectiva

Con la implementación de la Directiva sobre Actos Representativos, los usuarios y los grupos de defensa del consumidor ahora pueden iniciar acciones colectivas de reparación. Esto significa que incluso las infracciones menores en la recopilación del consentimiento pueden convertirse en objeto de demandas importantes si se identifican patrones de incumplimiento.

Conclusión: Construyendo Experiencias de Consentimiento Ético

El creciente enfoque en los avisos de consentimiento y los patrones oscuros destaca un cambio más amplio en el panorama de las políticas digitales de la UE: uno que prioriza la autonomía del usuario, la transparencia y el diseño ético.

Para las empresas, esto no es solo un problema de cumplimiento: es una oportunidad para generar confianza. Al abandonar las prácticas manipuladoras y adoptar un diseño centrado en el usuario, las plataformas pueden cumplir con los requisitos reglamentarios y, al mismo tiempo, mejorar la satisfacción del usuario.

En una era donde cada clic cuenta, respetar el derecho del usuario a elegir es más que un mandato legal; es un imperativo empresarial. A medida que las tendencias de cumplimiento continúan evolucionando, las empresas deben asegurarse de que sus estrategias de consentimiento no solo sean legalmente sólidas, sino también éticamente correctas.