GeezerVison

Types of deceptive pattern →

Addictive Design The user interacts with the product excessively, because its design exploits psychological vulnerabilities to foster compulsive behaviour. Comparison prevention The user struggles to compare products because features and prices are combined in a complex manner, or because essential information is hard to find. Confirmshaming The user is emotionally manipulated into doing something that they would not otherwise have done. Currency Confusion The user is misled about how much they are really spending, because real money is converted into a virtual currency that obscures the true cost. Disguised ads The user mistakenly believes they are clicking on an interface element or native content, but it's actually a disguised advertisment. Fake scarcity The user is pressured into completing an action because they are presented with a fake indication of limited supply or popularity. Fake social proof The user is misled into believing a product is more popular or credible than it really is, because they were shown fake reviews, testimonials, or activity messages. Fake urgency The user is pressured into completing an action because they are presented with a fake time limitation. Forced action The user wants to do something, but they are required to do something else undesirable in return. Hard to cancel The user finds it easy to sign up or subscribe, but when they want to cancel they find it very hard. Hidden costs The user is enticed with a low advertised price. After investing time and effort, they discover unexpected fees and charges when they reach the checkout. Hidden subscription The user is unknowingly enrolled in a recurring subscription or payment plan without clear disclosure or their explicit consent. Nagging The user tries to do something, but they are persistently interrupted by requests to do something else that may not be in their best interests. Obstruction The user is faced with barriers or hurdles, making it hard for them to complete their task or access information. Preselection The user is presented with a default option that has already been selected for them, in order to influence their decision-making. Sneaking The user is drawn into a transaction on false pretences, because pertinent information is hidden or delayed from being presented to them. Trick wording The user is misled into taking an action, due to the presentation of confusing or misleading language. Visual interference The user expects to see information presented in a clear and predictable way on the page, but it is hidden, obscured or disguised.

Hall of shame →

Amazon 31 examples Google 22 examples Microsoft 21 examples Facebook 20 examples Twitter 15 examples Adobe 13 examples HP 11 examples Linkedin 10 examples Instagram 9 examples Trump 9 examples Apple 7 examples Meta 7 examples Yahoo 7 examples New York Times 6 examples Booking.com 5 examples Doordash 5 examples Figma 5 examples 5 examples

Relevant laws →

GDPR (EU) 70 enforcements Spanish Law on Information Society Services 22 enforcements FTC Act (US) 15 enforcements Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (US) 7 enforcements Consumer Protection Laws (UK) 5 enforcements ePrivacy (EU) 5 enforcements District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act 3 enforcements Italian Consumer Law (EU) 3 enforcements PECR (UK) 3 enforcements Electronic Fund Transfer Act (US) 2 enforcements Unfair Competition Law (US) 2 enforcements Austria Data Protection Law (EU) 1 enforcement

Enforcement actions →

EU Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, and Instagram Social Media Network's Investigation by DPC 28 Jul 2022 · €405,000,000 in fines USA In the Matter of Epic Games, Inc 13 Mar 2023 · $245 million in fines EU Ireland's Data Protection Commission Investigation into WhatsApp Ireland Limited 20 Aug 2021 · €225,000,000 in fines USA FTC v. Prog Leasing 22 Apr 2020 · $175 million in fines EU Deliberation of the Restricted Committee concerning Google LLC and Google Ireland Limited 1 Dec 2021 · €150 million in fines USA Federal Trade Commission v. Vonage Holdings Corporation 3 Nov 2022 · $100 million settlement USA State of Arizona, ex rel. Mark Brnovich, Attorney General v. Google, LLC 3 Oct 2022 · $85 million settlement EU Deliberation of the Restricted Committee concerning Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited 19 Dec 2022 · €60,000,000 in fines EU Deliberation of the Restricted Committee concerning Facebook Ireland Limited 31 Dec 2021 · €60,000,000 in fines USA Geraldine Mahood v. Noom, Inc. 11 Feb 2022 · $62 million in settlement EU NGO la Quadrature du Net (LQDN) and Noyb (Complainant) v. Google LLC 21 Jan 2019 · €50,000,000 in fines USA United States of America v. MyLife.com, Inc., and Jeffrey Tinsley 15 Dec 2021 · $21 million in fines

Reading list →