FTC Accuses AI Search Engine Of ‘Rampant Consumer Deception’

The headline refers to a new FTC lawsuit against an AI‑driven “answer” or search service that the agency says uses dark‑pattern tactics to trap people in paid subscriptions, not to a general ban on AI search.​

What the FTC is alleging

• The FTC says the company runs many Q&A or “AI answer” landing pages (including brands like JustAnswer and related sites) that look like straightforward help or search pages but are actually funnels into paid plans.​

• Users are allegedly told they can get an answer for a small fee (for example, 1 or 5 dollars), then are immediately signed up for a much more expensive monthly subscription—up to about 79 dollars—without clear, prominent disclosure.​

How the scheme is said to work

• People search online, click what appears to be a useful AI‑answer result or ad, and are taken to a page with a chatbot that asks more questions and then pushes them to “confirm” payment to see the answer.​

• The complaint says the true subscription terms are buried in fine print above a large “Confirm now” button, so many consumers think they are making a one‑time small payment when they are actually enrolling in recurring billing.​

Why the FTC calls it “rampant consumer deception”

• The FTC frames this as an example of “dark patterns”: manipulative interface design that nudges or tricks people into choices they would not otherwise make, such as ongoing subscriptions or excessive data sharing.​

• Federal officials say hundreds of thousands of consumers have been hit with unwanted charges and that complaints describe the service as “scammy,” supporting the claim that the deception is widespread.​

What the company says in response

• A spokesperson for JustAnswer, the main company named in this case, has publicly disagreed with the FTC, saying the firm clearly discloses its pricing and offers simple cancellation options (phone, chat, email, web).​

• The company argues it has been in dialogue with the FTC for years and portrays the lawsuit as unfair, while the agency is asking a court to stop the alleged practices and impose penalties.​

Broader context for AI and the FTC

• The FTC has recently launched several actions related to AI products, including cases against tools that help generate fake reviews and misleading AI marketing claims, signalling that AI‑powered services are under close scrutiny for deceptive practices.​

• Regulators are especially focused on AI systems that either enable false content at scale or use AI‑branded interfaces as a front for aggressive billing and data‑harvesting schemes.​