European Commission and Consumer Authorities Find Widespread Online Discount Violations During Sales Events
The European Commission and consumer protection authorities from 23 Member States as well as Iceland and Norway released the results of a screening of online discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. The investigation found that one in three traders incorrectly displayed discounts online during the sales events.
Screening Results and Scope
The authorities conducted a coordinated screening, or "sweep," of online discount practices. The action targeted the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales periods, which are major online shopping events across Europe. The results, published on March 26, 2026, identified widespread non-compliance with consumer protection rules regarding price transparency.
Key Finding on Trader Compliance
The central finding of the investigation was that a significant proportion of online traders failed to correctly display discounts. Specifically, the screening determined that one in three traders engaged in incorrect discount practices. The European Commission and the participating national authorities led this enforcement action from Brussels.