Ethics and the law

Lines worth not crossing.

Honesty

Fake reviews, invented urgency, hidden costs and hard-to-cancel subscriptions all work in the short term and destroy trust. Several are also illegal in most jurisdictions.

Dark patterns increasingly attract regulatory attention and fines.
Disclose paid endorsements; audiences and regulators both notice.

Privacy

Data protection rules govern what you may collect, why, and how long you keep it. Consent must be informed and withdrawable, and the specifics depend on where your customers live.