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| Title | “THINK IT’S FREE? BEWARE OF DECEPTIVE SUBscrptION TACTICS” | ||
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| Date | 2025-02-04 | Read | 7541 |
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KCC Publishes Dark Pattern Handbook to Protect Digital Service Users A handbook addressing dark patterns?deceptive design techniques that trick users into unintended payments or obscure critical terms of digital services?has been published, featuring real-world case studies. On January 22, 2025, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), led by Acting Commissioner Kim Tae-kyu, announced the release of the “Dark Pattern Handbook to Protect Digital Service Users” to mitigate the negative impacts of dark patterns on users. As digital platforms play an increasingly central role in daily life?spanning activities like information searches, online shopping, and entertainment?dark patterns have become more sophisticated and difficult to detect. These manipulative user interfaces mislead users into making undesirable choices or obscure important information, often leading to significant losses. The handbook highlights frequently reported issues and user complaints in two categories: Subscrption-based Services and Service Ads, Notifications, and Data Collection. For Subscrption-based Services, the handbook identifies four prevalent types, including ▲ making the cancellation process unnecessarily difficult (obstruction), ▲ manipulating the user interface to steer users toward specific actions, and ▲ hiding important information relevant to user decisions. For Service Ads, Notifications, and Data Collection, it outlines six common types, including ▲ excessive advertisements disrupting service usage, ▲ prompting users to enable ads and notifications, and ▲ forcing users to encounter unwanted advertisements. The KCC conducted a survey on user awareness of dark patterns, with the findings presented in the handbook through figures and infographics designed to enhance public understanding and help users minimize potential risks or losses. The handbook identifies dark pattern tactics commonly used in subscrption-based services, including ▲ important information hiding, ▲ visual manipulation & sneaking, and ▲ use of emotional language. These tactics undermine users’ autonomy by pressuring them into specific actions, such as making payments, or by preventing them from easily canceling subscrptions or deleting accounts. The handbook also examines dark patterns in advertising, notifications, and data collection practices, such as manipulating users into downloading mobile apps, inducing users to receive or watch unwanted ads and notifications, and auto-playing advertisements. Key survey findings include: 62% of respondents reported encountering user interface designs where the “keep membership” option was more visually appealing than the “cancel membership” option; 74% experienced pop-up windows or modal selections that deceptively steered them toward mobile app downloads; and 67% encountered auto-playing ads during their online activities. The KCC has been issuing non-binding administrative guidance recommending corrections for minor dark pattern practices in subscrption-based and music streaming services. However, it emphasized that practices posing significant risks to users, such as omitting critical payment-related information, could constitute violations of the Telecommunications Business Act and may result in corrective action orders and/or monetary penalty surcharges. Cheon Ji-hyun, Deputy Director General of Market Investigation, stated, “The handbook will empower digital service users to make more informed decisions,” adding, “The KCC remains committed to investigating and addressing dark patterns on major platform services, including shopping, delivery, and travel platforms, to safeguard users from inconvenience and financial harm.” The handbook is available for free download on the KCC’s website at www.kcc.go.kr. ### The Korea Communications Commission |
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250122 (보도자료) “무료라더니 구독 유도, 눈속임 상술 조심하세요”.hwpx
20250122_News_Release_Dark Pattern Handbook_.doc |
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