Some business practices on the internet may not be against the law, but they undermine or manipulate consumer choice. Legal advocates have coined a new name for this practice: dark patterns. Difficult ...

Navigating the virtual marketplace has become an integral part of the consumer experience in the digital age. Lurking behind the convenience and accessibility of e-commerce websites, however, lies a ...

MORE. IT’S A TERM THAT’S BEEN USED IN THE ONLINE WORLD FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, BUT NOW FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IS TRYING TO SHINE SOME LIGHT ON WHAT ARE KNOWN AS DARK PATTERNS USE TO TRICK YOU INTO ...

On 9 February 2026, Treasury announced a consultation on draft laws proposed to amend the Australian Consumer Law ( ACL) to strengthen consumer protection by introducing targeted reforms on ...

Tech companies, subscription apps and e-commerce sites have for years used subtle tricks to nudge people toward a decision or purchase they might not otherwise make. There's even a name for the ...

“When it comes to the digital sphere, we want to make it fair. It’s shocking that on average 60% of websites did not comply with basic consumer rules between 2007 and 2019…. This is why we want to ...

The use of dark patterns in UX/UI has become so prevalent that earlier this year, legislators in California and Colorado took action. Now, what has commonly been considered a design issue is a legal ...

Dark patterns are not always grim and mysterious. To the contrary, they make it easy to make one choice over another. The internet is a confusing place and some of that is on purpose. Dark patterns, ...

Even if you’ve never heard the term “dark pattern” before, you’ve likely come across one. Consumer Reports provides a list of examples in a tweet, and on the tip line’s site, but there are entire ...

Nick is a Features author who's been writing for fellow tech geeks since 2011. While he's mostly focused on phones, he's also thrilled by cameras and audio gear of all shapes and sizes. On weekends, ...