Federal government cracking down on dark patterns online [Video]

AUSTIN, Texas – From subscription services that are nearly impossible to cancel, to hidden charges when you’re shopping online, companies these days are using some pretty dirty tricks to get even more of your money.

These tactics are called “dark patterns,” and they’re as shady as they sound. But now, the federal government is taking some steps to crack down on them.

Many of us have signed up for a streaming service, a cell phone plan, maybe a gym membership, and found it was way easier to sign up than back out.

“They make it really difficult either to figure out how to cancel or you have long wait times, or it just takes twice as long to cancel as it did to sign up,” said Stephanie Liebner, financial practices attorney with the Federal Trade Commission.

It was that kind of convoluted cancelation process at phone provider Vonage that led to a $100 …