California Bans “Dark Patterns” Under Landmark Privacy Act

Illustration for article titled California Passes New Regulation Banning "Dark patterns" Under Landmark Privacy Act

Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA / Contributor (Getty Images)

New regulations approved in terms of California’s Consumer Protection Act Monday bans the use of so-called dark patterns – tricks deployed through websites or programs what are you looking for to frustrate or bamboo users to do things they would not normally do.

About a Monday Press release, Xavier Becerra, Attorney General of California, Announces New Regulations, approved by the state Office of Administrative Law, and said that the updated restrictions will strengthens the important CCPA legislation approved in August 2020.

“California is at the forefront of online privacy protection, and this latest OAL approval removes even more barriers to empowering consumers to exercise their rights under California consumer protection law,” Becerra said. “This protection ensures that consumers will not be confused or misled if they want to exercise their privacy rights.”

Imagine navigating a website or viewing an in-app ad suddenly redirect to a subscription page, even though you have no interest in whatever products is marketed at you. Such tactics is known as “Dark patterns“- secretly strategies on which to rely “Confusing language or unnecessary steps, such as being forced to click or scroll through multiple screens or listen to why you would not prefer their data sales,” according to an infographic information by the California AG’s office. The tactic is wider than you might think, and banning it under the CCPA is a step towards ensuring that consumers are protected of misleading business practice.

The new regulations will also introduce the use of a new Privacy option icon, what internet consumers can use it as a visual indicator on subscription to the sale of their personal information.

Pass in 2018. The California Consumer Privacy Act is one of the most robust data privacy laws in the United States. As it is written, the legislation currently provides consumers bigger control over how the personal information that businesses collect about it is used and shared, and also allows them to in most cases delete or withdraw the sale of their personal information.

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