July 4, 2025, 11:54 am | Read time: 4 minutes
A recent study by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) has revealed significant shortcomings in the implementation of the Digital Services Act. According to the findings, legally required seller information is missing on all reviewed product pages of major online marketplaces. This can sometimes cause issues for customers.
Whether Amazon, Temu, or Kaufland–none of the 30 product pages examined in the analysis by the vzbv had all the required information about sellers fully available. Missing contact details and safety labels, in particular, make it difficult for consumers to enforce their rights. This represents a significant implementation deficit in the Digital Services Act (DSA). At the same time, a report by the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) shows that unsafe products in online shops are on the rise–especially in electronics and children’s toys.
vzbv Finds Massive Deficiencies in Online Shops
The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) reviewed several major online marketplaces from March 20 to April 7, 2025, including AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Kaufland, Media Markt, Otto, Shein, Temu, Wish, and Zalando. A website analysis examined a total of 30 sample product pages from the categories of children’s toys, electronics, and clothing.
According to the analysis, none of the online marketplaces met the requirements for legally mandated information obligations. Basic details such as the name, address, phone number, or email of the respective seller were missing on all product pages. Information about responsible economic operators in the EU was also often absent or incomprehensible to customers. However, according to the DSA, all this information is mandatory so that consumers can find a contact person in case of problems.
Safety Labels Often Incomplete
In addition to contact details, required safety and warning notices were often missing, according to the vzbv. In several cases, commercial register data was either not found or contradictory. The investigation reveals that consumers cannot rely on the provided product information–a serious issue with potentially dangerous goods.
“Online marketplaces are booming–but with growth comes an increase in unsafe products. When problems arise, it’s often unclear who is liable. Information about sellers or manufacturers is frequently missing,” comments Ramona Pop from the vzbv on the findings.
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Unsafe Products Enter Shops Through Detours
The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) is also sounding the alarm. The coalition of European and U.S. consumer advocates has evaluated numerous reports, tests, and recalls. The result: In many cases, unsafe products continue to reach European platforms through international sellers despite bans.
Particularly electronics and children’s toys often have significant defects–ranging from electric shock risks to inadequate CE markings and missing safety instructions.
In the U.S., Amazon has even filed a lawsuit due to unsafe products, but not for the reason one might expect. The lawsuit is against the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which decided that Amazon is liable as a seller for unsafe products sold through its platform–including recall obligations. Amazon disputes this responsibility and also questions the constitutionality of the consumer protection agency in general. The company argues that it acts merely as a logistics service provider, similar to UPS or FedEx.
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vzbv Calls for Firm Action Against Violations
Due to the mentioned deficiencies in online shops, the vzbv calls for decisive political intervention. Peter Gerlicher, a consultant in the Digital Market Monitoring team of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations and a contributor to the analysis, told TECHBOOK:
“When problems arise with purchases on online marketplaces, it is important for consumers to have a contact person who is truly reachable and accountable. If this information is missing, consumers cannot enforce their rights in case of problems and are left in the lurch. The vzbv will provide the results of its investigation to the authorities responsible for enforcing the Digital Services Act and reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings within the framework of collective legal protection.”
The demand is clear. Platforms must be held accountable for violations. At the same time, authorities must be equipped with sufficient resources to conduct appropriate investigations and penalize violations. Consumer protection must no longer lag behind in the digital world, according to the vzbv.
The sanctions for platforms that violate the Digital Services Act (DSA) have already been clearly defined in the law. Affected companies face fines of up to 6 percent of the global annual revenue from the previous fiscal year. Additionally, authorities can impose coercive fines of up to 5 percent of the average global daily revenue to enforce specific measures. Users, on the other hand, have the right to claim damages under national law if the provider violates user-related DSA provisions.