Deceptive Design Patterns (DDPs) or “dark patterns” are often found on websites and apps. They “nudge” consumers into making decisions that may not be in their interests. Examples include additional charges at the end of a transaction after a person has committed time to the purchase process, or users being forced to provide payment details…
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Ofcom has published two consultations under the Online Safety Act 2023, one on transparency reporting and the other in information gathering. Transparency reporting Under the Act, “categorised services”, which are expected to include some of the most widely used social media and search services, are required to produce transparency reports at least annually. Ofcom is…
The ICO has launched a call for evidence on children’s privacy practices on social media and video sharing platforms. It has been carrying out a review of social media platforms and video sharing platforms (VSPs) as part of its Children’s Code Strategy. The ICO’s Tech Lab reviewed 34 social media platforms and video sharing platforms,…
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The Payments Systems Regulator (PSR) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are seeking views on the benefits and risks digital wallets bring to people and businesses. They say that the adoption of digital wallets has significantly increased in recent years, and believe that around 50% of UK adults now use them. Among the most popular digital…
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UK law Patents Court refuses interim licence for video coding patents including SEPs The Patents Court has issued its judgment in Alcatel Lucent SAS v Amazon Digital UK Ltd and others [2024] EWHC 1921 (Pat). The case arose in the context of a dispute between Nokia and Amazon. The court dismissed a claim that Amazon…
Simba Sleep has agreed to change its online sales practices following an investigation by the CMA which highlighted concerns that the company may have misled customers about price reductions and caused unfair pressure on consumers to make hasty purchases. As well as the CMA’s investigation, the ASA had issued rulings in September 2022 and March…
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Ofcom is consulting on strengthening its draft illegal terms of practice and guidance under the Online Safety Act 2023, specifying animal cruelty and human torture as new types of content platforms must tackle. Under the Act, when new legal duties on platforms come into force, tech firms will have to assess the risk of illegal…
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The UK government is consulting on three draft regulations under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024. They set out: The DMCC Act received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. It contains provisions requiring the CMA, the courts and other enforcers to estimate or calculate a business’s turnover. This is to assess if…
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The Competition and Markets Authority is consulting on draft direct consumer enforcement guidance and rules as required and permitted under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act). The DMCC Act grants new direct enforcement powers, relating to consumer protection law, to the CMA. These new powers enable the CMA to investigate, determine…
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UK Spreadex and Sporting Index merger raises provisional competition concerns Last year, Spreadex acquired the “retail business” of Sporting Index from Sporting Group Holding Limited (Sporting Group). Spreadex and Sporting Index both provide fixed odds betting and sports spread betting to customers based in the UK. The CMA reviewed the acquisition and decided that a…