Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
| Act of Parliament | |
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| 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) |
| Territorial extent | [b] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 May 2024 |
| Commencement | various[c] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends |
|
| Repeals/revokes | |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| 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 its Third Reading in the House of 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]
Subscription contracts
The act provides consumers with rights regarding the information provided before they sign up to a subscription and provides for regular reminders to be issued, particularly before trials or 12 month+ contracts auto-renew. Traders will also have to ensure it is straightforward for people to exit contracts, allow them to exit online if they signed up online, and provide a 14 day cooling-off period after a trial or 12 month+ contract auto-renews. During these periods, a consumer can cancel without penalty.[7]
Utilisation
In July 2025, the CMA indicated it may deploy the Act's new digital markets powers following its final decision that competition is not working well in the UK cloud infrastructure services market.[8]
See also
- Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002
- Competition and Markets Authority
- Online Safety Act 2023
- Easy-to-cancel mandate
Notes
References
- 1 2 "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 15 September 2023.
- ↑ "New law banning subscription traps and fake reviews to be introduced". Business Matters. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ↑ "New consumer law to tackle drip pricing". www.farrer.co.uk. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ↑ "Subscription traps: new laws on the way". www.penningtonslaw.com. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ↑ Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Section 339
- ↑
This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: UK Government, Government Response to Consultation on the Implementation of the new Subscription Contracts Regime, published on 2 April 2026, accessed on 5 April 2026 - ↑ "Cloud services market investigation". Competition and Markets Authority. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
External links
- 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.
- Text of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 as originally enacted or made within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill page at bills.parliament.uk
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill Public Bill Committee tracker page at theyworkforyou.com