Penalties

What each rule costs if you ignore it

The maximum fine or penalty for every rule RuleGoose checks — pulled straight from the law or the regulator, and linked so you can verify it. Below each is a free 60-second checker so you can see where you actually stand.

⚠️ These are maximum statutory exposures — the ceiling written into each law, not a prediction. Real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower, and small sellers are rarely hit with the cap. RuleGoose is an independent project; this is informational, not legal advice.

Figures reflect the latest statutory and inflation-adjusted maximums — including the 2025 FTC §5 ($53,088/violation) and ADA Title III ($118,225 first violation) adjustments — last reviewed June 2026. Always confirm against the official source linked on each card.

Stack your exposure

Tick the rules that apply to your business and see the combined worst-case statutory ceiling — the most these laws allow on paper, not a prediction. Most incumbents quote one fine; this stacks every rule that lands on you.

EU rules
US rules
Platform & payments
$0
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Worst-case ceiling assuming one violation of each ticked fixed-dollar rule. EU rules (AI Act, GDPR, GPSR, accessibility, packaging, consumer rights) carry penalties set as a percentage of global turnover or by each member state, and platform/PCI penalties are contractual — these are flagged "variable" and counted separately, never folded into the dollar figure. Statutory maximums, not predictions; small sellers are rarely hit with the cap.

EU rules

LabelProof

From Aug 2026
EU AI Act content labeling
Maximum exposureup to €15M or 3% of global turnover (AI Act Art. 99)

Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2024/1689

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GPSR Ready

Since Dec 2024
EU product safety (GPSR)
Maximum exposurerecalls, EU sales bans + member-state fines

Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2023/988

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AccessProof

Since Jun 2025
EU Accessibility Act (WCAG)
Maximum exposuremarket withdrawal + member-state fines

Source: EUR-Lex — Directive (EU) 2019/882

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PrivacyProof

In force
GDPR privacy & cookie consent
Maximum exposureup to €20M or 4% of global turnover (Art. 83)

Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2016/679

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PackProof

EPR in force · PPWR from 2026
EU packaging & EPR
Maximum exposureEPR registration fees + member-state fines

Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR)

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ContractProof

In force
EU consumer rights (distance selling)
Maximum exposure12-month extended withdrawal period for missing disclosures + fines up to 4% of annual turnover (Omnibus Dir. 2019/2161)

Source: EUR-Lex — Directive 2011/83/EU

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PriceProof

In force
EU price transparency (Omnibus)
Maximum exposurefines up to 4% of annual turnover (Omnibus Dir. 2019/2161) — or €2M where turnover is unknown

Source: EUR-Lex — Directive 98/6/EC (Art. 6a)

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US rules

RenewProof

In force
US auto-renewal & cancellation laws
Maximum exposureFTC fines up to $53,088/violation + state penalties

Source: ROSCA on Cornell LII (15 U.S.C. 8401)

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ReviewProof

Since Oct 2024
FTC fake-reviews & endorsements
Maximum exposureup to $53,088 per violation (FTC)

Source: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 465

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CCPA Ready

In force
US state privacy (CCPA/CPRA)
Maximum exposure$2,500/violation — $7,500 if intentional or a minor

Source: California AG — CCPA

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MailProof

In force
CAN-SPAM email marketing
Maximum exposureup to $53,088 per email (FTC)

Source: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 316 (CAN-SPAM Rule)

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TextProof

In force
TCPA SMS / text marketing
Maximum exposure$500–$1,500 per text or call

Source: TCPA on Cornell LII (47 U.S.C. 227)

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ADA Ready

In force
ADA web accessibility (US)
Maximum exposureDOJ up to $118,225 (1st violation) + private-suit costs

Source: ADA.gov — web accessibility guidance

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KidProof

In force
COPPA children's privacy (US)
Maximum exposureup to $53,088 per violation (FTC)

Source: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 312 (COPPA Rule)

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Platform & payments

Etsy Compliance

Since Jun 2025
Etsy 2025 Creativity Standards
Maximum exposurelisting removal + account suspension

Source: Etsy — Creativity Standards

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PayProof

In force
PCI DSS payment security
Maximum exposurecard-network fines $5K–$100K/month (contractual)

Source: PCI Security Standards Council

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What each rule's fine actually is — the short answers

What is the maximum penalty for EU AI Act content labeling?

up to €15M or 3% of global turnover (AI Act Art. 99) (LabelProof). Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for Etsy 2025 Creativity Standards?

listing removal + account suspension (Etsy Compliance). Source: Etsy — Creativity Standards. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for US auto-renewal & cancellation laws?

FTC fines up to $53,088/violation + state penalties (RenewProof). Source: ROSCA on Cornell LII (15 U.S.C. 8401). This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for EU product safety (GPSR)?

recalls, EU sales bans + member-state fines (GPSR Ready). Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2023/988. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for FTC fake-reviews & endorsements?

up to $53,088 per violation (FTC) (ReviewProof). Source: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 465. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for EU Accessibility Act (WCAG)?

market withdrawal + member-state fines (AccessProof). Source: EUR-Lex — Directive (EU) 2019/882. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for GDPR privacy & cookie consent?

up to €20M or 4% of global turnover (Art. 83) (PrivacyProof). Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2016/679. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for US state privacy (CCPA/CPRA)?

$2,500/violation — $7,500 if intentional or a minor (CCPA Ready). Source: California AG — CCPA. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for CAN-SPAM email marketing?

up to $53,088 per email (FTC) (MailProof). Source: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 316 (CAN-SPAM Rule). This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for TCPA SMS / text marketing?

$500–$1,500 per text or call (TextProof). Source: TCPA on Cornell LII (47 U.S.C. 227). This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for PCI DSS payment security?

card-network fines $5K–$100K/month (contractual) (PayProof). Source: PCI Security Standards Council. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for ADA web accessibility (US)?

DOJ up to $118,225 (1st violation) + private-suit costs (ADA Ready). Source: ADA.gov — web accessibility guidance. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for COPPA children's privacy (US)?

up to $53,088 per violation (FTC) (KidProof). Source: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 312 (COPPA Rule). This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for EU packaging & EPR?

EPR registration fees + member-state fines (PackProof). Source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR). This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for EU consumer rights (distance selling)?

12-month extended withdrawal period for missing disclosures + fines up to 4% of annual turnover (Omnibus Dir. 2019/2161) (ContractProof). Source: EUR-Lex — Directive 2011/83/EU. This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

What is the maximum penalty for EU price transparency (Omnibus)?

fines up to 4% of annual turnover (Omnibus Dir. 2019/2161) — or €2M where turnover is unknown (PriceProof). Source: EUR-Lex — Directive 98/6/EC (Art. 6a). This is the maximum statutory ceiling, not a prediction — real-world enforcement is discretionary and usually far lower.

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