Posted on 06/25/2019 8:30:01 AM PDT by Mariner
Even if youve never heard the phrase dark patterns, youre almost certainly familiar with them. Theyre the sneaky ways online companies trick you into agreeing to stuff youd normally never assent to.
Classic example: You encounter a prompt asking if you want to sign up for some program or service, and the box is already checked. If you dont uncheck it that is, if you do nothing youre enrolled.
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Congress that would prohibit websites and online platforms (hi, Facebook!) from employing such deliberately deceptive tactics, and would empower the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on sites that keep trying to fool people.
The Deceptive Experiences to Online User Reduction Act (a.k.a. the DETOUR Act) is the brainchild of Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). Theyre hoping the legislation will be included as part of sweeping privacy regulations now under consideration in the Senate Commerce Committee.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Do Not Taunt Happy Fun Ball!
Sorry buddy, the X on that box doesn’t go away.
A selection box can say anything it wants, even to the extent of ‘click here to exit,’ which might actually execute a selection of ‘yes, sign me up.’ The wording on the box is not necessarily related to the action taken.
If I’m on a dicey web site, I’ll exit by highlighting the browser page in the task bar and exiting from there.
The best advice, of course, is to avoid dicey web sites, but you can’t always tell.
so, those of us who use pop up blockers, are essentially ‘doing nothing’ because hte blocker closes the pop up and we’re being signed up for stuff?
You do have to be on your toes.
Ever try to download something and have to navigate the hundred barely-marked advertisement downloads and find the actual download on the page for the software you want?
“A bill has been introduced in Congress...” No more meaningless phrase exists in the language. Of course the media has been duly alerted to fool people that our “heroic” congress critters seem to be slaving away on behalf of the American people.
Same thing happened to me. . . . Thought I had a good deal (she was really, really good looking and had a sweet disposition) and it seemed to be the thing to do at the time . . . then the REAL person behind the mask emerged . . . ouch!!!!! It still smarts!!
Lemme guess, this will work as good as Congress’ no call list, right?
Deceptive offers where you sign on for more than you thought ... voting Democrat?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.