Practice family · OECD-aligned working taxonomy

Interface interference

Privileges business-favoured actions through visual, linguistic or structural presentation of choices and information.

This family contains 12 canonical practicesand 24 paired fictional interface examples. It is a learning and review structure, not a statutory category, regulator finding or conclusion that a particular interface is unlawful.

Explore the practice guidesBrowse the 24 individual examples

Recognition

Signals to investigate

Begin with observable interface states and sequences. These signals are prompts to preserve evidence and ask better questions; they are not a shortcut to the elements of an Australian legal test.

  • Visual, linguistic or structural presentation favours the trader’s outcome.
  • A control’s appearance or wording obscures its consequence or a material alternative.
  • Information needed for comparison is delayed, fragmented or disproportionately difficult to use.

Fairer design

Principles for a more neutral choice

A fairer alternative should preserve the person’s intended task while making consequences, alternatives and changes of mind usable. It is a practical comparison, not a legal safe harbour.

  • Give materially different choices comparable clarity and predictable labels.
  • Place price, duration and consequence information at the associated decision.
  • Test comprehension and choice quality rather than acceptance or conversion alone.

Australian legal context

Apply the legal layer after identifying the mechanism

A taxonomy helps reviewers name and compare an interaction. Legal analysis still depends on the provision in force, the complete journey, the consumer context, evidence and the alleged detriment. Keep these layers separate in reports and release decisions.

Current law and enforcement

Existing ACL provisions, including misleading conduct and false-representation rules, may apply now where their own elements are satisfied. Do not describe current cases as enforcement of section 28B.

Enacted section 28B

From 1 July 2027, the general prohibition requires consumer-connected conduct that manipulates the consumer or unreasonably distorts the decision environment and causes, or is likely to cause, financial or other detriment. A family label alone satisfies none of those elements.

Regulations and guidance

Pending regulations or dedicated regulator guidance must be marked as pending until published and verified. They must not be silently converted into present duties, exclusions or regulator-approved design rules.

Editorial implementation guidance

Recognition signals, fair-design principles and evidence prompts on this page support product, design, engineering and legal review. They do not replace advice on a specific journey or certify compliance.

Read the section 28B guideCheck current enforcement

Lifecycle coverage

Where interface interference mechanisms can appear

Review complete transitions rather than isolated screens. The same mechanism can change meaning when a person is comparing prices, confirming a purchase, managing an account or trying to leave a service.

1 related practiceAccount ManagementReview settings, plan controls, permissions, interruptions, changes and exercise of consumer choices after signup. →3 related practicesCancellationTest discoverability, route requirements, retention prompts, completion and confirmation across every supplied ending method. →6 related practicesCheckoutExamine additions, defaults, disclosures, urgency and account prompts from basket review to payment confirmation. →5 related practicesPricingTrace price claims, comparison frames, personalisation, mandatory charges and discount conditions before a consumer reaches checkout. →3 related practicesSignupReview Australian signup journeys for forced registration, data requests, defaults, trial terms and the point at which a consumer commits. →3 related practicesSubscriptionMap trial conversion, recurring payment, renewal, price change, prescribed notices and subscriber scope as separate lifecycle events. →

Canonical library

Interface interference practice guides

Each guide provides a plain-language definition, inclusion and exclusion boundaries, at least two paired HTML examples, fairer alternatives, review questions, evidence prompts and a context-specific Australian legal-information map.

Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Bundled options

Bundled options is a working label for this design mechanism: Distinct products, services, permissions or purposes are grouped under one choice so the user cannot readily understand or select them separately. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Checkout
  • Pricing

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Choice or information overload

Choice or information overload is a working label for this design mechanism: The volume or organisation of options or information makes meaningful comparison impractical and channels users toward a default or business-favoured path. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Pricing
  • Signup

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Complex or inaccessible language

Complex or inaccessible language is a working label for this design mechanism: Material guidance is presented in a language or level of complexity that makes informed choice materially harder for the target user. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Cancellation
  • Checkout

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Commences 1 July 2027Interface interference

Confirmshaming and emotional pressure

Confirmshaming is design terminology, not a named offence in the final Act. Loaded language may nevertheless manipulate a consumer or contribute to unreasonable pressure or distortion under section 28B from 1 July 2027, where likely financial or other detriment also exists. Tone alone is not enough; placement, repetition, choice structure and consequence matter.

  • Checkout
  • Cancellation

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Disguised advertisement or action

Disguised advertisement or action is a working label for this design mechanism: A promotional or biased action is presented as ordinary content or as a different control, causing interaction under a mistaken understanding. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Pricing

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Commences 1 July 2027Interface interference

False hierarchy

False hierarchy is a working label for this design mechanism: Parallel options are presented as if one were hierarchically primary, giving a business-favoured option materially greater visual or interactive prominence. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Signup
  • Subscription

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Feedforward ambiguity

Feedforward ambiguity is a working label for this design mechanism: A control does not let the user reasonably predict its material outcome before activation. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Checkout
  • Account Management

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Commences 1 July 2027Interface interference

Hidden or ineffective material information

The final Act identifies failure to disclose material information, and disclosure that is complex, ineffective, unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous, untimely or overwhelming, as examples of conduct that may be an unfair trading practice. From 1 July 2027 the full section 28B test still applies. Existing misleading-conduct law can already apply to omissions and overall impressions in context.

  • Pricing

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Misleading reference pricing

Misleading reference pricing is a working label for this design mechanism: A comparison or prior price creates an inaccurate or insufficiently explained impression of savings. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Pricing

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Commences 1 July 2027Interface interference

Preselection and biased defaults

The final Act does not prohibit every preselected option as a standalone category. A default can, however, contribute to manipulation or unreasonable distortion under section 28B where the complete test and likely detriment are present. Other rules can apply now, including price, misleading-conduct, consent or sector-specific requirements, depending on the option.

  • Checkout
  • Subscription

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Pressured upselling

Pressured upselling is a working label for this design mechanism: A more expensive or profitable option is made the practical focal choice through preselection, visual prominence or obscured lower-cost alternatives. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Subscription
  • Checkout

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context
Editorial implementation guidanceInterface interference

Trick question

Trick question is a working label for this design mechanism: A question or control uses confusing, reversed or leading semantics so the user's likely interpretation may not match the resulting choice. This is editorial implementation guidance for Australian journeys, not a finding of unlawfulness. From 1 July 2027, a similar interface is relevant to ACL section 28B only if the complete consumer-connection, manipulation or unreasonable-distortion and actual-or-likely-detriment test is met. Current ACL rules require a separate assessment.

  • Signup
  • Cancellation

2 visual examples

View examples and legal context

Evidence-led workflow

Move from a signal to a reviewable record

  1. Reproduce the relevant journey with a clean account and preserve every state, option, disclosure and price before the consumer decision.
  2. Name the observable mechanism and check the inclusion criteria and legitimate-use boundaries on the relevant practice page.
  3. Verify operational facts behind availability, timing, ranking, pricing, consent and account state instead of inferring them from interface copy.
  4. Record the person’s intended task, realistic alternatives, likely effect and potential financial, privacy, time or autonomy detriment.
  5. Apply current ACL provisions and the enacted 2027 framework as separate legal layers, note pending material and retain the dated review decision.

Evidence base

Sources

  1. Dark commercial patternsOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development · Secondary · checked 2026-09-14 · OECD Digital Economy Papers No. 336
  2. Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Act 2026Federal Register of Legislation · Primary · checked 2026-09-14 · C2026A00064
  3. Competition and Consumer Act 2010, including Schedule 2: Australian Consumer LawFederal Register of Legislation · Primary · checked 2026-09-14 · C2004A00109