Basic principles for effective online transparency

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP), and the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM) work together in the Digital Regulation Cooperation Platform (SDT). Each individual SDT member enforces compliance with the transparency requirements in its own sector. These requirements are meant to strengthen the position of people vis-à-vis market participants that offer products, services, and media by giving them access to the same information. However, having transparency requirements does not automatically mean they are also effective. Behavioral studies show that people are only able to process a limited amount of information. The way in which information is designed is therefore very important.

The four SDT members have drawn up the following basic principles in order to ensure that the transparency requirements are as effective as possible for consumers.