USA - Federal

Google+ security bug settlement

Google has agreed to pay $350M to its shareholders as a settlement for deceptive practices related to Google+. The lawsuit claimed that Google hid a software glitch that exposed user data while publicly emphasizing data security. The settlement aims to repay damages suffered by shareholders due to the glitch causing a drop in share value. Approval from a U.S. District Judge is pending.

USA - State

Verizon Hidden Fees Class Action

A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that claimed Verizon Wireless misled its customers by not disclosing certain fees in its postpaid wireless service plans. A monthly administrative charge was added that was not originally part of the advertised service plan price.

USA - State

TX v Hilton

Texas Attorney General has sued Hilton Dopco Inc. for charging mandatory hotel fees that are not included in advertised rates, alleging violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit claims that the hidden resort fees add up to more than $16 million annually at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. This lack of transparency in advertising thwarts consumers' ability to compare prices and misleads them about the true room rate.

USA - Federal

Legoland NY class action

Legoland New York is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly failing to disclose a $4.99 processing fee until checkout, violating the NY Arts and Cultural Affairs Law. The park is accused of advertising one set of prices and then adding the fee at checkout, resulting in a significant price increase. According to the lawsuit, this tactic has allowed the park to deceive customers and collect substantial amounts of money.

USA - Federal

Hilton hidden fees class action

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Hilton, alleging that the hotel chain falsely advertises its rates by charging hidden fees, including "resort fees" and "destination fees." The lawsuit claims that Hilton fails to disclose the full cost of its hotel rooms upfront and adds on these fees at the last minute, cheating consumers out of millions of dollars. According to the lawsuit, Hilton's deceptive practices violated consumers' rights to truthful information about the actual price of the nightly room rates.

EU

EU investigation into X (formerly Twitter) for dark patterns

European Commission Launches Digital Services Act Investigation Against X (formerly Twitter) The European Commission has kicked off a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) against X. This probe covers various grounds, including risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers. Specifically focusing on dark patterns: 1. Information Manipulation Check: The Commission is looking into whether X's “Community Notes” system effectively combats information manipulation in the EU, especially in safeguarding civic discourse and electoral processes. 2. Transparency in Question: The investigation questions the transparency measures taken by X, highlighting potential shortcomings in providing researchers access to public data and concerns with X's ads repository. 3. Deceptive Design Alert: Suspicions about a deceptive design in X's user interface, particularly related to Blue checks on subscription products, are under scrutiny. This marks the first formal action by the Commission to enforce the DSA, a mere three years after its proposal, indicating a swift move towards ensuring online platforms operate responsibly. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving investigation.

Hungary

Wizz Air Hungary

The Hungarian Competition Authority has initiated proceedings against Wizz Air Hungary for concealing crucial information about its free online check-in services, resulting in passengers incurring avoidable costs. Passengers with return tickets were unable to check in online for free from their mobile phone browsers, leading to an airport check-in fee of around EUR 40.

Praneetha Sali

Understanding the dark patterns in pushnotifications in games and its influence on userbehavior

This study examines the widespread use of dark patterns in gaming, particularly focusing on push notifications. Surveying 156 respondents across diverse age and gender groups, the goal is to understand how these patterns influence user behavior. Statistical analysis using ANOVA in R software offers insights into the ethical implications of such design elements.

Weiwei Yi

Gaming the mind: Unmasking ‘dark patterns’ in video games

In the realm of virtual gaming, the subtle orchestration of player actions by game designers through "dark patterns" raises ethical concerns. Regulatory debates, such as those surrounding loot boxes, highlight the need to address these manipulative practices. Recent actions, like the FTC's fine on Fortnite, underscore the broader impact of deceptive interface designs. By examining these issues together, policymakers can better protect player autonomy and consumer welfare in gaming.

Vibhav Singh, Niraj Kumar Vishvakarma, Hoshiar Mal and Vinod Kumar

Prioritizing dark patterns in the e-commerce industry – an empirical investigation using analytic hierarchy process

This study utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process to assess and prioritize dark patterns employed by e-commerce companies. Unveiling insights from consultations with corporate and academic specialists, the findings highlight the economic impact of these manipulative tactics. Notably, exigency, social proof, forced action, and sneaking stand out as high revenue-generating dark patterns, while obstruction and misdirection yield marginal profits. The paper suggests practical techniques for companies to annually prioritize dark patterns, optimizing profits with minimal trade-offs. Recognizing the strategic implications, this research underscores how e-commerce companies can enhance efficiency by selectively implementing lucrative dark patterns and avoiding those with marginal returns, ultimately benefiting both the business and consumers.

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USA - Federal

Google+ security bug settlement

USA - State

Verizon Hidden Fees Class Action

USA - State

TX v Hilton

USA - Federal

Legoland NY class action

USA - Federal

Hilton hidden fees class action

EU

EU investigation into X (formerly Twitter) for dark patterns

Hungary

Wizz Air Hungary

Praneetha Sali

Understanding the dark patterns in pushnotifications in games and its influence on userbehavior

Weiwei Yi

Gaming the mind: Unmasking ‘dark patterns’ in video games

Vibhav Singh, Niraj Kumar Vishvakarma, Hoshiar Mal and Vinod Kumar

Prioritizing dark patterns in the e-commerce industry – an empirical investigation using analytic hierarchy process

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