Dark pattern, also called a deceptive design pattern, refers to user interface techniques deliberately designed to mislead or manipulate individuals into making unintended choices. The term was coined in 2010 by user experience designer Harry Brignull, who created darkpatterns.org to document such practices. Examples include bait-and-switch advertising, drip pricing, confirmshaming, misdirection, and “roach motels,” where opting in is easy but cancellation is deliberately difficult. High-profile cases, such as TurboTax’s misleading “free” filing campaign and Meta’s obstructive AI training opt-outs, illustrate their widespread impact. Regulators across the 📝United States, 📝European Union (EU), and United Kingdom have taken action to restrict or ban these practices under consumer protection and data privacy laws.
