Alysha Manji-Knight on Regulating Dark Patterns in Advertising

In a recent letter to Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner requested that his office and the Competition Bureau be permitted to collaborate on investigations, inquiries and other formal compliance matters, while proposing legislation that further defines and prohibits dark patterns that affect consumers.

In an interview with Global Competition Review, partner Alysha Manji-Knight suggests the letter serves as another reminder of Canada’s and other jurisdictions’ increasing prioritisation of dark patterns, noting that “…companies need to be mindful that this is at the forefront of all regulators’ minds.”

Alysha also notes the potential advantage of collaborating on overlapping matters to avoid inefficient and conflicting regulatory orders. With larger companies that operate globally, cooperation on regulations could also lead to fewer conflicting remedies and clearer compliance guidance.

Read the full article here.