The Federal Trade Commission has announced an expanded enforcement initiative targeting companies that use deceptive digital design practices known as dark patterns. The agency will focus on subscription traps, hidden fees, and manipulative cancellation flows.
Several major retailers and streaming services have already received civil investigative demands related to their checkout and cancellation processes. Penalties for violations can reach tens of millions of dollars.
Consumer advocates applaud the crackdown, noting that dark patterns cost American consumers billions of dollars annually through unwanted purchases and difficult-to-cancel subscriptions.
