▲ Fair Trade Commission
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced on October 6 that it has established and distributed guidelines for operating online interfaces to prevent dark patterns.
Dark patterns refer to practices that cleverly induce consumer illusions or carelessness online, prompting irrational consumption.
It is a violation of the E-Commerce Act for e-commerce or mail-order businesses to use dark patterns to convey false or exaggerated facts, lure consumers, or obstruct contract cancellations.
These guidelines categorize dark-pattern practices into 13 types, presenting the concept, aspects of consumer harm, core compliance requirements, detailed considerations, and specific examples for each type.
In cases involving major inquiries from businesses or special issues, specific criteria for judgment are also provided through a separate Q&A section.
Particularly regarding "obstruction of cancellation or withdrawal," one of the best-known types of dark patterns, the guidelines recommend placing buttons for canceling subscriptions or membership withdrawals on the initial screen after logging into the cyber mall or on a screen directly connected with a single click from the initial screen, such as "My Page."
To prepare these guidelines, the FTC gathered opinions from business associations and held meetings to explain the main contents and precautions in detail.
The FTC expects that these guidelines will enable businesses to easily check regulations and compliance requirements related to dark patterns, while helping consumers prevent damages caused by dark patterns.
(Photo: Provided by Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.