Global Actions Target Dark Patterns and Digital Transparency

Introduction:

Welcome to Fair Monday! We know Mondays can be a bit rough, so we created Fair Monday to bring you weekly insights and resources on dark patterns and digital fairness. Each Monday, we share updates on the latest developments, helping you stay informed and empowered to create a fairer, more transparent digital space.

This Week's Highlights:

1. 🇰🇷 South Korea's Revised E-Commerce Act to Tackle Dark Patterns
Starting February 2025, South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission will enforce:

• 30-day notifications for price hikes and prior consent.
• 14-day notice for converting free services into paid.

Targets hidden renewals and cancellation interference, with penalties including fines and business suspensions.
➡️ Learn more here

2. 🇰🇷 Coupang Under Investigation for WOW Membership Practices
On June 17, 2024, Korea's Fair Trade Commission began investigating Coupang for:

• Insufficient notifications for price hikes.
• Difficult subscription cancellation processes.
• Misleading checkout terms.
  ➡️ Read more here

3. 🇬🇧 Meta Faces GDPR Challenges in the UK Over AI Training Data
The Open Rights Group (ORG) filed a complaint with the ICO, alleging:

• Lack of legitimate interest for AI training data.
• Misleading opt-out mechanisms and insufficient transparency.
  ➡️ Find out more here

4. 🇮🇹 Google Investigated in Italy Over Consent Practices
The Italian Competition Authority (ICA) is investigating Google and Alphabet for:

• Misleading practices and lack of transparency.
• Use of dark patterns to pressure user consent for data linking.
  ➡️ Read more here

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Conclusion:

This week highlights global efforts—from South Korea’s legislation to Meta’s and Google’s challenges in Europe—to fight dark patterns and improve user transparency. Let’s continue advocating for fairness in the digital world. Have a great week!