Deceptive Design and the Growing Threat of "Dark Patterns" in Technology Practices
Speaker: Colin M. Gray – Bloomington, IN, United StatesTopic(s): Human Computer Interaction
Abstract
The strategic goals of organizations increasingly consider the role of user experience, impacting both the design of user interfaces as well as the relationships of humans and society to technology. But while knowledge of user needs and human psychology is generally framed as a means of generating empathy or reducing the divide between humans and technology, this knowledge also has the potential to be used for nefarious purposes. In this talk, I share findings from over five years of my work on dark patterns that addresses practitioners’ engagement with issues of ethical concern. I use the concept of “dark patterns” as a point of connection to identify emerging synergies among design, computer science, ethics, law, and policy. I start with a collection of examples of dark patterns and “asshole designs,” demonstrating the harmful use of manipulative patterns that are ubiquitous—and increasingly under legal scrutiny. I then describe the organizational and disciplinary complexities that make it difficult for practitioners to act in ethically responsible ways. I conclude by describing the potential impact of regulations and enhanced organizational practices in responding to these threats. I use these studies to build a case for ethical engagement in the education and practice of designers and technologists, pointing towards the need for scholars and educators to address both near-term issues such as manipulation, and longer-term issues that relate to social impact, responsibility, and the potential for regulation.About this Lecture
Number of Slides: 0Duration: 45 minutes
Languages Available: English
Last Updated:
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