Shutterstock to pay $35M over hard-to-cancel subscriptions

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/05/shutterstock-pay-35-million-settle-ftc-allegations-over-illegal-subscription-cancellation-practices

#HackerNews #Tech #ConsumerProtection

English – The Conversation | Dark patterns on the web are designed to manipulate you – why aren’t they all illegal? by Gregory M. Dickinson, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Institute for Humane Studies

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Website designs that nudge, pressure, confuse or trap users—known as “dark patterns”—range from merely annoying to outright deceptive, and only the latter are targeted by consumer‑protection law. While repeated pop‑ups, aggressive sales pitches, or confusing buttons may feel pushy, they are generally lawful because the law does not prohibit persuasive design, only practices that mislead a reasonable consumer by hiding key facts, making optional choices appear mandatory, or creating deceptive cues such as fake countdowns or hidden fees. Regulators focus on designs that are likely to deceive rather than those that simply irritate, prioritizing the most egregious cases and leaving many borderline tactics in the wild, which explains why dark patterns seem ubiquitous even though existing statutes already address the deceptive ones.

Read more: https://theconversation.com/dark-patterns-on-the-web-are-designed-to-manipulate-you-why-arent-they-all-illegal-279961

#Federal #consumerprotection #darkpatterns

Mashable: California lawmakers explore ways to preserve access to online games. “California lawmakers are deliberating a proposed bill, known as the ‘Protect Our Games Act,’ that would require publishers to continue offering access to online games even after developers stop supporting them, according to Ars Technica.”

$40m bid for airline crackdown as sector warns of higher fares, cancelled flights
By Kristy Sexton-McGrath

The federal government has announced nearly $40 million to fund an overhaul of aviation consumer rights.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-16/federal-budget-aviation-consumer-protections/106665266

#Budget #TravelandTourism #ConsumerProtection #KristySextonMcGrath

Letting the fox run the henhouse. Is there no end to regulatory capture in the world? This regulator will now only protect corporations, not the public.

Lawyer who defended Big Tech companies to lead Dutch privacy regulator https://nltimes.nl/2026/05/13/lawyer-defended-big-tech-companies-lead-dutch-privacy-regulator

#nlpol #nlpoli #nlpolitiek #regulatorycapture #nederland #netherlands #privacy #consumerprotection

Coles found to have misled shoppers in bombshell Federal Court case
By Michael Atkin and Lucy Kent

Supermarket giant Coles broke consumer law by misleading shoppers on discount prices, a Federal Court judge has found.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-14/coles-accc-federal-court-judgment/106673800

#ConsumerConfidence #Courts #ConsumerGoods #ConsumerProtection #MichaelAtkin #LucyKent

The FTC is still quite active, by the way.

Shutterstock to Pay $35 Million to Settle FTC Allegations Over Illegal Subscription and Cancellation Practices
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/05/shutterstock-pay-35-million-settle-ftc-allegations-over-illegal-subscription-cancellation-practices
#lawfedi #consumerprotection

Rohit chopra to head newly created California Business and Consumer Services Agency.

#lawfedi #consumerprotection #CFPB
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/12/newsom-appoints-rohit-chopra-california-consumer-agency-00917844