California bans “dark grounds” under landmark privacy law

New regulations were approved under California Consumer Personal Information Protection Act Monday which will ban the use of so-called dark patterns – tricks deployed through websites or apps who’s looking to frustrate or trick users into doing things they wouldn’t normally do.

In a monday Press release, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the new regulations, state approved Administrative Law Office, and said the update restrictions go strengthen the historic ACCP legislation approved in August 2020.

“California is at the forefront of online privacy protection, and this new OAL approval removes even more barriers by allowing consumers to exercise their rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act,” Becerra said. “These protections ensure that consumers will not be confused or misled when seeking to exercise their data privacy rights.”

Imagine you are browsing a website or watching an in-app ad when you suddenly redirected to a subscription page, even if you have no interest whatever product Is being marketed at you. Phone tactical are what is called “Dark patterns“- sly strategies which are based on “Confusing language or unnecessary steps such as forced clicking or scrolling through multiple screens or listening to why you shouldn’t refuse their data sale,” according to an infographic provided by the California AG office. The tactics are more prevalent than you might imagine, and banning them under the CCPA is a step towards consumers are protected of deceitful Business practices.

New the regulations will also institute the use of a new Privacy Options icon, which the Internet consumers can use as a visual cue at refuse the sale of their personal information.

Adopted in 2018, the California Consumer Privacy Act is one of the most strong data privacy laws in the USA. As drafted, the legislation currently grants consumers bigger control over how the the personal information that companies collect about them is used and shared, and also allows them to remove or opt out of the sale of their personal information in most cases.