Compliance Radar
Who was sanctioned, and for what?
Fines, court rulings and incidents from Europe and North America: 718 cases from 32 jurisdictions, each with an official source and checked against that source before publication. Filter by country, area of law and sector. Click a chart to drill down one level.
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Where?
by regionAll jurisdictions
What for?
by topicWho?
by company- „Билла България“ ЕООД (Billa Bulgaria) 1 case 7 % · €207,555
- Amazon 1 case 7 % ·
- Amazon.com, Inc. 1 case 7 % · €2.13bn
- Betreibergesellschaft des Onlineshops About You (Sitz Hamburg; in der Mitteilung nicht namentlich genannt) 1 case 7 % · €1.32m
- Dante International S.A.; Extreme Digital-eMAG Kft. (Betreiber des eMAG-Webshops) 1 case 7 % · €620,091
- Deghi S.p.A. 1 case 7 % · €2m
- GymBeam s.r.o.; Gymbeam Hungary Kft. 1 case 7 % · €244,230
- Jeronimo Martins Polska (Biedronka) 1 case 7 % · €24.7m
- Leen Bakker 1 case 7 % · €130,000
- Maplebear Inc. (Instacart) 1 case 7 % · €51.5m
- 5 more5 cases
When?
per quarter, by date of decision| Period | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2023 | 1 | €2.28m |
| Q4 2023 | 0 | — |
| Q1 2024 | 0 | — |
| Q2 2024 | 1 | €130,000 |
| Q3 2024 | 0 | — |
| Q4 2024 | 1 | €244,230 |
| Q1 2025 | 0 | — |
| Q2 2025 | 1 | — |
| Q3 2025 | 2 | €2.13bn |
| Q4 2025 | 4 | €30.2m |
| Q1 2026 | 3 | €60.2m |
| Q2 2026 | 2 | €2.71m |
| Q3 2026 | 1 | €620,091 |
16 cases
13 Aug 2026 Dante International S.A.; Extreme Digital-eMAG Kft. (Betreiber des eMAG-Webshops)eMAG: further 225 million HUF for unfulfilled commitments €620,091
In 2021, the operators of the online retailer eMAG had committed to a support programme for Hungarian businesses, but once again implemented it only partially and not with the prescribed content. In the follow-up review, the Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (Hungarian Competition Authority, GVH) imposed 225 million HUF; in total, the operators have already received fines of 710 million HUF.
Commitments made binding by an authority require dedicated implementation and evidence controlling – otherwise the next fine follows.
- Authority / court
- Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail
- Legal basis
- Nachprüfungsverfahren zu verbindlichen Zusagen (VJ/6/2025)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Repeat case
- yes
- Mitigating circumstances
- The companies acknowledged the failures and waived legal remedies.
- Published
- 13 Aug 2026
Original amount 225,000,000 HUF, converted at the ECB reference rate of 13 Aug 2026.
- Újabb 225 milliós GVH-bírságot kapott az eMAG, mert megint hiányosan teljesítette a saját vállalásait Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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26 Jun 2026 Neonet S.A.Neonet: 3 million PLN over false delivery and availability information on Allegro €709,854
On its Allegro account, the electronics retailer promised dispatch within 24 hours even for goods not in stock and did not inform customers in good time of delays or unavailability. UOKiK imposed a fine of 3,043,000 PLN; the decision is not final.
Link delivery and availability information to stock levels; in the event of delays, inform customers immediately.
Availability and delivery information on marketplaces
- Authority / court
- Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów (UOKiK)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Information duties in online retail
- Legal basis
- Verletzung kollektiver Verbraucherinteressen
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 26 Jun 2026
Original amount 3,043,000 PLN, converted at the ECB reference rate of 26 Jun 2026.
- Empty promises from Neonet – decision by the President of UOKiK Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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23 Jun 2026 Deghi S.p.A.Deghi: 2 million EUR for endlessly renewing countdown discounts €2m
From January 2024 to December 2025, the online retailer advertised time-limited discounts with countdown timers which, once they had expired, restarted with a new timer on identical terms. The AGCM classified this artificial scarcity as a particularly insidious dark pattern and imposed a fine of 2 million EUR.
A countdown must genuinely expire – an automatically restarting timer creates misleading scarcity.
False urgency and countdown timers in online marketing
- Authority / court
- Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Codice del Consumo (pratiche commerciali scorrette)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 25 Jun 2026
- PS13027 - E-commerce, sanzione di 2 milioni di euro a Deghi S.p.A. per pratica commerciale scorretta Press release of an authority
- AGCM Provvedimento PS13027 (Deghi S.p.A.), adunanza del 23 giugno 2026 Decision of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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14 Jan 2026 Zalando SEZalando: around 31 million PLN for missing 30-day lowest prices on discounts €7.34m
Zalando did not display the lowest price of the previous 30 days for discounts, manipulated reference prices to make reductions appear larger and did not present the mandatory information consistently at all stages of the purchasing process. Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) imposed a fine of 30,945,000 PLN; the decision is not final.
Discount information must be identical and correct on all pages of a shop – listing, product page, shopping basket.
Presentation of discounts in online shops
- Authority / court
- Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów (UOKiK)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Polnische Umsetzung der Omnibus-Richtlinie (Preisangaben bei Preisermäßigungen); Verletzung kollektiver Verbraucherinteressen
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Published
- 14 Jan 2026
Original amount 30,945,000 PLN, converted at the ECB reference rate of 14 Jan 2026.
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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14 Jan 2026 Whaleco Technology Limited (Temu)Temu: almost 6 million PLN over changing reference prices and discount labelling €1.4m
The operator of the Temu interface omitted the 30-day lowest price or stated it incorrectly, labelled promotions inconsistently and changed reference prices from day to day without the actual price changing. UOKiK imposed a fine of 5,910,900 PLN; the decision is not final.
Reference prices that shift daily without any real price change are a misleading staging of discounts.
- Authority / court
- Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów (UOKiK)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Polnische Umsetzung der Omnibus-Richtlinie (Preisangaben bei Preisermäßigungen); Verletzung kollektiver Verbraucherinteressen
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 14 Jan 2026
Original amount 5,910,900 PLN, converted at the ECB reference rate of 14 Jan 2026.
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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13 Jan 2026 Maplebear Inc. (Instacart)Instacart pays 60 million USD in FTC settlement over "free delivery" with mandatory fees €51.5m
According to the FTC, Instacart advertised free delivery but charged mandatory service fees of up to 15 %, promised a "100 % satisfaction guarantee" without providing full refunds and did not sufficiently point out the subsequent charges for trial subscriptions. Under the settlement, the company is paying 60 million USD for refunds and must discontinue the practices complained of.
Anyone advertising something as "free" must not add a mandatory fee elsewhere.
Price advertising and disclosure of fees in marketing
- Authority / court
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Section 5 FTC Act; Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA)
- Action
- Disgorgement of profits
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 18 Dec 2025
Original amount 60,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 13 Jan 2026.
- Instacart to Pay $60 Million in Consumer Refunds to Settle FTC Lawsuit Press release of an authority
- FTC v. Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart – Stipulated Order (N.D. Cal., dated 13.01.2026) Court decision
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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4 Dec 2025 Jeronimo Martins Polska (Biedronka)Biedronka: almost 105 million PLN over undisclosed conditions for "100 % back" €24.7m
The supermarket chain advertised promotions such as "Special Wednesday" with "100 % money back as a voucher", but did not state restrictions concerning product categories, minimum spend and use of the vouchers in radio, app and in-store advertising, only on the receipt, the website or in-store notices. UOKiK imposed a fine of 104,722,016 PLN; the decision is not final.
State the essential restrictions of a promotion in the advertising itself, not just on the receipt.
Complete promotion terms in advertising
- Authority / court
- Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów (UOKiK)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Verletzung kollektiver Verbraucherinteressen (irreführende Werbung durch Unterlassen)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Culpability
- intentional
- Published
- 4 Dec 2025
Original amount 104,722,016 PLN, converted at the ECB reference rate of 4 Dec 2025.
- When a promotion fails to mention what is important – nearly PLN 105 million in fines for Biedronka Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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19 Nov 2025 Betreibergesellschaft des Onlineshops About You (Sitz Hamburg; in der Mitteilung nicht namentlich genannt)About You: 505 million HUF fine and compensation for countdown pressure and discount claims €1.32m
The fashion mail-order company presented discounts in a misleading manner and exerted psychological pressure with countdowns running down by the second and scarcity notices. In addition to a fine of 505 million HUF imposed by the Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (Hungarian Competition Authority, GVH), the Hamburg-based operating company committed to paying compensation of 1,750 HUF each to all Hungarian customers who made purchases between 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2024 (estimated at over 500 million HUF) and to a consumer protection compliance programme.
Countdown timers and scarcity banners must be true – otherwise they are prohibited purchasing pressure.
Dark patterns and price information in online shops
- Authority / court
- Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Verbot unlauterer Geschäftspraktiken gegenüber Verbrauchern
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Mitigating circumstances
- Acknowledgement, cooperation, customer compensation and compliance programme almost halved the fine.
- Published
- 19 Nov 2025
Original amount 505,000,000 HUF, converted at the ECB reference rate of 19 Nov 2025.
- Több mint egymilliárd forintot fizet az About You a magyaroknak Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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23 Oct 2025 TFG Holding, Inc.JustFab, ShoeDazzle, FabKids: 4.8 million USD settlement with 33 attorneys general over VIP membership €4.14m
According to the allegations of the attorneys general, the online fashion retailer enrolled buyers in a paid VIP membership programme without their express consent, presented prices in a misleading way and made cancellation difficult. Under the settlement with 32 states and D.C., TFG is providing around 3.8 million USD in automatic refunds and paying 1 million USD to the states; the settlement does not constitute an admission of guilt.
A purchase must not silently trigger a membership with monthly charges.
Subscription models and express consent at checkout
- Authority / court
- Attorney General of Pennsylvania (verhandelt mit Maryland, Texas und D.C.; Vergleich mit 33 Attorneys General)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Information duties in online retail
- Legal basis
- Verbraucherschutzgesetze der beteiligten Bundesstaaten
- Action
- Disgorgement of profits
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 23 Oct 2025
Original amount 4,800,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Oct 2025.
- AG Sunday Secures Settlement Valued at $4.8 Million with Online Clothing Retailer Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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9 Oct 2025 BGH: price reduction only permissible with a clearly legible 30-day lowest price Order
A food discounter advertised a coffee with a price reduction without stating the lowest total price of the previous 30 days unambiguously, clearly recognisably and legibly. In an action brought by the Wettbewerbszentrale (Centre for Protection against Unfair Competition), the BGH upheld the injunction issued by the lower courts (Regional Court of Amberg, Higher Regional Court of Nuremberg).
In all discount advertising, state the 30-day lowest price as clearly as the discount itself.
Price information in discount advertising (30-day lowest price)
- Authority / court
- Bundesgerichtshof (I. Zivilsenat), Az. I ZR 183/24
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- § 11 Abs. 1 PAngV; § 5a Abs. 1, § 5b Abs. 4 UWG
- Action
- Order
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 9 Oct 2025
- Unzulässige Werbung mit einer Preisermäßigung (Nr. 184/2025) Court press release
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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25 Sep 2025 Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon pays 2.5 billion USD in FTC settlement over Prime sign-up and cancellation hurdles €2.13bn
According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Amazon used confusing order screens to push millions of customers into Prime subscriptions without their consent and deliberately made cancellation difficult. The settlement comprises a civil penalty of 1 billion USD and 1.5 billion USD in refunds, as well as a clear decline button and simple cancellation.
Subscription sign-ups require an equally prominent option to decline and a cancellation process that is as simple as signing up.
Dark patterns and subscription design in product design
- Authority / court
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Information duties in online retail
- Legal basis
- Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA); Section 5 FTC Act
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Liability of senior managers
- The press release names Senior Vice President Neil Lindsay and Vice President Jamil Ghani.
- Published
- 25 Sep 2025
Original amount 2,500,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 25 Sep 2025.
- FTC Secures Historic $2.5 Billion Settlement Against Amazon Press release of an authority
- FTC Case: Amazon.com, Inc. (ROSCA), FTC v. – Stipulated Order entered by the Court 25.09.2025 Enforcement database of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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24 Jul 2025 „Билла България“ ЕООД (Billa Bulgaria)Billa advertises oil containing 80% sunflower oil as olive oil – 405,936 leva €207,555
In June 2024, the retail chain advertised the product ‘Маслиново масло екстра върджин 20% – Basso Blend’ on its website, on radio, on television and online in such a way that olive oil was in the foreground, although the product consisted of 80% sunflower oil. The Комисия за защита на конкуренцията (Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition, KZK) opened proceedings of its own motion, considered the advertising misleading (Art. 32(1) in conjunction with Art. 33 ZZK – Bulgarian Protection of Competition Act) and imposed 0.032% of 2024 turnover, i.e. 405,936 leva.
Advertising must not highlight the share of a high-quality ingredient in a way that misleads customers about the composition – responsibility lies with the advertiser, not the agency.
Product advertising and labelling of composition
- Authority / court
- Комисия за защита на конкуренцията (КЗК, Bulgarische Wettbewerbskommission)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Art. 32 Abs. 1 i. V. m. Art. 33 ZZK
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
Original amount 405,936 BGN, converted at the ECB reference rate of 24 Jul 2025.
- КЗК Публичен електронен регистър – Производство (Решение № 691 от 24.07.2025; Volltext als PDF im Register) Official register or notice
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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6 Jun 2025 AmazonAmazon commits to the CMA to tougher action against fake reviews Order
Following an investigation into fake reviews and "catalogue abuse" (transferring good reviews to other products), Amazon undertook to the CMA to detect and remove such reviews quickly, to sanction infringing sellers up to and including a ban on selling, and to set up simple reporting channels.
Anyone who publishes reviews must maintain active processes against fakes and the transfer of reviews.
- Authority / court
- Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Fake reviews
- Legal basis
- Enterprise Act 2002, Part 8 (Verpflichtungszusagen nach altem Durchsetzungsregime)
- Action
- Order
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Mitigating circumstances
- Voluntary undertakings without a fine.
- Published
- 6 Jun 2025
- Amazon gives undertakings to CMA to curb fake reviews Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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17 Dec 2024 GymBeam s.r.o.; Gymbeam Hungary Kft.GymBeam: 100 million HUF for impermissible health claims on food supplements €244,230
The food supplement retailer made extensive use of prohibited medicinal claims and unauthorised health claims in its advertising, suggested false discounts with struck-through prices and did not inform customers about how customer reviews were checked. Following acknowledgement and a commitment to a compliance programme with training, the Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (Hungarian Competition Authority, GVH) imposed 100 million HUF.
Product texts in online shops are advertising – content teams need the list of authorised health claims.
Permissible advertising claims for foods and food supplements
Missing or inadequate training played a role in the decision.
- Authority / court
- Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Verbot unlauterer Geschäftspraktiken; EU-Health-Claims-Verordnung (VJ/51/2022)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Culpability
- negligent
- Mitigating circumstances
- Acknowledgement, waiver of legal remedies and compliance programme with internal training and membership of the advertising self-regulatory body.
- Published
- 17 Dec 2024
Original amount 100,000,000 HUF, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Dec 2024.
- Megtévesztően kommunikált a GymBeam, 100 milliós bírságot fizet a cég Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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2 May 2024 Leen BakkerLeen Bakker: 130,000 EUR fine for embellished reference prices €130,000
The ACM imposed fines totalling 621,000 EUR on five online retailers because they did not base discounts on the lowest price of the previous 30 days and artificially raised initial prices. The furniture and home furnishings retailer Leen Bakker received a fine of 130,000 EUR and did not acknowledge the infringement.
The reference price for a discount is the lowest price of the previous 30 days – raising prices shortly before a promotion is off-limits.
Discount advertising and reference prices
- Authority / court
- Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Preisangabenregeln zur Preisermäßigung (Umsetzung Omnibus-Richtlinie, seit 1.1.2023)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Published
- 11 Jun 2024
- ACM has fined online stores for using fake discounts Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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27 Sep 2023 The Dufresne Group Inc. (TDG Furniture Inc., DFA Operations Inc., DF Swan Ltd., Furniture Investment Group Inc.)Dufresne: 3.25 million CAD over inflated reference prices and false countdowns €2.28m
The furniture retail group advertised inflated regular prices and discounts derived from them, as well as countdown timers, even though the promotions were extended or replaced. It is paying a penalty of 3.25 million CAD and 100,000 CAD in costs and has committed to a compliance programme.
Discounts need a genuine reference price, and time-limited promotions must actually end.
Reference prices and urgency claims in advertising
- Authority / court
- Competition Bureau Canada (Consent Agreement)
- Area of law
- Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing
- Legal basis
- Competition Act (false or misleading representations; ordinary selling price)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Mitigating circumstances
- Resolution by agreement with a compliance programme.
- Published
- 27 Sep 2023
Original amount 3,250,000 CAD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 27 Sep 2023.
- The Dufresne Group to pay $3.25 million penalty to settle Competition Bureau concerns over marketing claims Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link