DarkPatternRadar
That countdown is fake. That checkbox was pre-checked. We see it.
What is DarkPatternRadar?
Websites are designed to manipulate. Fake countdown timers create urgency that does not exist. Pre-checked boxes opt you into things you never asked for. Unsubscribe flows require five clicks and a confirmation email. These are dark patterns, and they are everywhere.
DarkPatternRadar scans every page you visit and flags manipulative UX elements in real time. Each detected pattern is classified under the DSA Article 25 taxonomy so you know exactly what type of manipulation is being used against you.
Features
- Fake urgency counter detection - Identifies countdown timers and “only X left” messages that reset on page reload.
- Hidden fee detection - Flags charges that appear only at checkout or are buried in fine print.
- Pre-checked checkbox flagging - Detects opt-in boxes that are checked by default, from newsletters to data sharing.
- Confirm-shaming detection - Identifies guilt-tripping language on decline buttons (“No thanks, I don’t want to save money”).
- Complex unsubscribe path analysis - Measures how many steps it takes to opt out and flags unnecessarily complex flows.
- Visual asymmetry detection - Spots when the “accept” button is large and green while “decline” is small and gray.
- DSA Art. 25 classification - Every detected pattern is tagged with its Digital Services Act category.
Who is it for?
Built for consumers who refuse to be manipulated. DPOs and regulators get documented evidence of non-compliance. Everyone gets a clearer view of how websites are designed to work against them.
- Anonymized crowdsourced intelligence (opt-in)
- You can opt out, but crowdsourced features will be disabled
- Read the privacy policy