A Comparative Study of the Prohibition of Dark Patterns in the Digital Space in Consumer Law and Competition Law in Iran, the European Union, and the United States of America

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Private Law, University of Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D Candidate in Department of International Trade and Investment Law, University of Tehran, Iran

10.22034/law.2026.65180.3443

Abstract

Deceptive design in the digital space denotes a form of user interface design through which users are steered toward making decisions that do not necessarily correspond with their true intentions and may, in certain instances, result in detriment to their interests. Owing to the concealed and intricate nature of such design practices, these actions are frequently not regarded as constituting an explicit breach of existing legal provisions and, consequently, may fail to be legally classified as unlawful conduct or as violations of consumer protection law or competition law. With the expansion of academic inquiry and the increasing identification of concrete manifestations of this phenomenon-particularly since 2010-the concept of deceptive design has become embedded in scholarly discourse across disciplines such as computer science, psychology, and law. Concurrently, legislators in certain jurisdictions have undertaken measures aimed at the recognition and prohibition of such practices, especially within the regulatory frameworks of competition law and consumer protection law. Employing an analytical–descriptive methodology and a comparative approach grounded in library-based research, the present study examines the relevant legal regimes under European Union law and United States law and addresses the question of whether the prohibition of such practices can be discerned within the existing consumer protection and competition law framework of Iran. The findings of the study demonstrate that, notwithstanding the substantial impact of this phenomenon on consumer rights and competitive conditions, the current legal framework in Iran lacks the requisite adequacy to effectively confront it. Accordingly, the formulation and adoption of comprehensive, transparent, and technologically informed regulatory measures, accompanied by proportionate, effective, and deterrent enforcement mechanisms, are deemed necessary.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Jurisprudence and Islamic Law
Volume 16, Issue 40
October 2025
Pages 33-68

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