A Dutch lawmaker has introduced a bill that would prohibit the most harmful addictive design features on digital services, including infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, push notifications, and manipulative algorithms. Barbara Kathmann, a member of the centre-left opposition party Progressief Nederland (PRO) in the Dutch Parliament, submitted the proposal on Monday, arguing that the ban would shield both children and adults from exploitative online practices.
The move comes amid growing global scrutiny of major technology companies, with rights groups taking legal action against Meta, TikTok, and SnapChat over concerns that their platforms are engineered to encourage compulsive use. Kathmann is coordinating with parliamentarians in Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, and Portugal who share the goal of regulating digital platforms and addressing their allegedly harmful designs.
“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,” Kathmann said. “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 introduce a “fairness by design” duty of care, obliging digital platforms to demonstrate that their services are not addictive and to ensure their features are fair and non-manipulative. This would apply to social media, gaming, dating apps, and streaming platforms alike.
Building on earlier efforts
This is not the first time a Dutch politician has pushed for such a ban. In 2023, a report by Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak, also from PRO, was adopted by the European Parliament, calling on the European Commission to propose an EU-wide ban on addictive design. Van Sparrentak voiced support for the new Dutch bill, stating, “With this law, the Netherlands is taking the lead in Europe, and we can finally build a safe and non-addictive internet.”
She added: “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 European Commission is expected to table a proposal this November under its Digital Fairness Act, with an EU-wide addictive design ban as a key measure among several others aimed at enhancing consumer protections. The Act is complemented by other EU legislation in the pipeline, such as the EU Kids Act, which seeks 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, in force since 2022, already requires very large online platforms (VLOPs) like Meta and very large online search engines (VLOSEs) like Google to detect, remove, and prevent illegal content, hate speech, and dangerous products. However, advocates argue that more specific rules are needed to address the addictive design of these services.
The Dutch proposal is part of a broader European push to hold tech companies accountable for their design choices. As Kathmann and her allies across the continent press for change, the outcome of this bill could influence the direction of EU-wide regulation. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that digital platforms operate in a way that respects users’ autonomy and well-being, rather than exploiting their attention for profit.
