Regulators Find Most Dark Pattern Cases in Video, Music, and E-Book Services (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s antitrust regulator said Tuesday that subscription-based platforms, including online video services, were the most common offenders in its latest crackdown on so-called “dark patterns,” deceptive online practices that make it difficult for consumers to cancel services or avoid hidden charges.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) and the Korea Consumer Agency reviewed suspected cases between February and July, following the enactment of an e-commerce law aimed at regulating dark patterns. Of 36 businesses flagged, regulators found 45 questionable practices, with companies ordered to correct them or submit remediation plans.
The Fair Trade Commission in the central city of Sejong (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Subscription services — such as over-the-top (OTT) streaming, music, and e-book providers — accounted for 16 cases, the highest across sectors, followed by e-commerce platforms with 11.
The most frequent tactic was complicating cancellation procedures compared to sign-up, with 15 cases identified.
Firms have since been required to ensure cancellations can be made as easily online as sign-ups and to reduce redundant prompts discouraging users from quitting.
Other issues included “hidden renewals” — charging consumers or switching from free to paid services without prior consent — which accounted for nine cases, while misleading interface designs and staggered price disclosures were also detected.
The regulator warned that businesses that fail to follow through on corrective measures will face formal investigation and possible penalties.
“The correction of these suspected dark patterns is expected to set a precedent across related online platforms,” the KFTC said in a statement.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
