The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released the final agenda for its first workshop on the use of “dark patterns” online, Bringing Dark Patterns to Light: An FTC Workshop, which will be held virtually on April 29, 2021. The workshop will explore how to define “dark patterns,” their prevalence, possible harms (including to vulnerable groups) and potential solutions, among other things. The agency is also soliciting comments on relevant issues (see our earlier post for a list of topics).

The issue is receiving broader attention on the policy front. The FTC workshop provides an opportunity to explore the issues in more detail, and interested parties are encouraged to submit comments.