Turning the Lights On
Studying the Prevalence of Web Dark Patterns, Their Consequences, and Regulatory Challenges
Description
Dark patterns are malicious, intentional, and strategic design practices used by digital platforms to trick users into actions they might not otherwise take, such as signing up for unwanted subscriptions, sharing personal data, or making unintended purchases. These deceptive interfaces are not accidental; they are carefully crafted to benefit businesses at the expense of user autonomy and informed consent.
According to the European Commission, an alarming 97% of the most popular online platforms and 40% of all e-commerce sites continue to employ dark patterns (European Commission, 2022), raising urgent questions about the ethical responsibilities of digital designers and the role of design in shaping online behavior.
This project aims to design an enforcing technology tool that actively identifies and mitigates the use of dark patterns in digital products. By combining expert consensus with AI-driven mechanisms, the tool will support designers and regulators to combat dark patterns.