DUBLIN, May 1, 2026 — The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has identified widespread potential breaches of EU platform rules following a sweep of 17 online platforms operating in Ireland.
The review, launched after a surge in complaints from businesses in 2025, examined compliance with the Platform to Business (P2B) Regulation, which aims to ensure fair and transparent treatment of businesses that rely on digital platforms.
High rate of non-compliance
The CCPC found that around 80% of platforms reviewed showed some level of non-compliance, particularly in key areas such as:
- Transparency: unclear or potentially misleading terms and conditions, and failures to provide sufficient notice of changes
- Dispute resolution: lack of effective internal complaint-handling systems or information on independent mediation options
Under the rules, platforms must give at least 15 days’ notice of changes to terms and cannot apply them retrospectively.
Concerns over power imbalance
The regulator said the P2B framework is designed to address imbalances in bargaining power between large online platforms and smaller business users.
“Many Irish businesses depend on these platforms to reach customers,” the CCPC noted, adding that compliance is essential to ensure predictable and fair trading conditions.
Enforcement action under consideration
In response to the findings, the CCPC said it is now considering appropriate enforcement measures, which could include:
- engagement with platforms
- formal compliance notices
- potential prosecutions
The authority said its priority will be to ensure platforms understand their obligations and that businesses can effectively exercise their rights under the regulation.
The sweep highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of digital platforms across Europe, particularly around transparency and fairness in platform-to-business relationships.
