Dark patterns

Stay away from misleading designs (often called dark patterns) that push people into agreeing — for example, by making some buttons harder to see. If a visitor can’t make a real choice, their “yes” doesn’t count.

Avoid ❌	Do instead ✅
Pre-ticked or pre-enabled options (any layer)	Every option starts off / neutral
Refuse button hidden, low-contrast, or blended into the background	Refuse equal in size, contrast, and position to accept
Extra scrolling or extra clicks to refuse	One click to refuse, one click to accept
“Refuse” buried as a text link	Refuse is a real, labelled button
Vague or steering button wording	Buttons say exactly what happens
Accept prominent, refuse tucked away	Equal visual weight for both choices
A slider labelled “legitimate interest” where consent doesn’t apply and the effect is unclear	State clearly what a toggle does and its effect on click

This is checked

Since 2024 the Dutch privacy authority checks the use of cookies more strictly — more often looking at whether sites ask for a “yes” the right way. If a company breaks the rules (including by misleading visitors), the authority can step in.