Businesses operating in the UK face enforcement action under data protection, consumer protection and competition law if their design of websites and apps leads to user risks or harm, two authorities have warned.

In a joint blog post, Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Will Hayter, the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA’s) senior director in its Digital Markets Unit, said they want to see “improvements” in digital design practices.