California banned companies from using "dark patterns," or tricks to get uses to sell information.
California on Monday announced new protections for residents seeking to protect their personal information.
As of March 15, the California Consumer Privacy Act bans companies from using "dark patterns," or website designs that can confuse or trick users into opting into selling their information.
Businesses that continue to use dark patterns will receive a 30-day window to change their website design or risk further punishment.
"It makes a range of privacy-related dark patterns illegal — including certain kinds of trick wording, hidden small print, misdirection and bait-and-switch.".
In 2019, Senators Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Deb Fischer, a Republican, introduced a bill banning tech firms from using dark patterns.
Federal Trade Commission commissioner Rohit Chopra, who served under Trump and now Biden, has spoken out against dark patterns. »