This study investigates dark patterns, intentional user interface (UI) strategies, prevalent in 25 social networking sites (SNSs). Analyzing attempts to disable experimental accounts, they identified major dark pattern types (Complete Obstruction, Temporary Obstruction, Obfuscation, Inducements to Reconsider, and Consequences). Findings reveal the pervasive use of these manipulative UI strategies across all examined SNSs, underscoring the challenges users face in disengaging from platforms. This research advocates for further exploration to assess the necessity of enhanced industry regulation.

This paper explores the deceptive realm of dark patterns – marketing strategies that exploit cognitive biases, nudging consumers towards decisions misaligned with their preferences. Coined by Harry Bignull, dark patterns utilize behavioral science to compromise independent decision-making, favoring economic growth for digital platforms. Graphical representations illustrate the manipulative nature of these tactics. The erosion of decisional privacy, where apparent free will conceals cognitive exploitation, is dissected. The paper analyzes the existing Indian regulatory framework and proposes amendments to address algorithmically induced marketing strategies, advocating for consumer protection in the evolving landscape of digital commerce.

In an age dominated by extensive data collection, the once self-evident right to privacy is diminishing. This chapter explores the vital need for designing systems with user privacy at the forefront. Concepts like "Privacy by Design," "Value Sensitive Design," and "Privacy Enhancing Technologies" are discussed as approaches to integrate privacy considerations. Real-world examples, from smart meters to electronic health records, highlight the challenges in balancing functionality with the imperative of preserving privacy in contemporary digital landscapes.

'Dark patterns' are deceptive design elements on websites deliberately crafted to mislead users into making harmful decisions. Commonly found in online subscriptions and advertising, these elements, often visually appealing, can make it challenging for users to reverse choices. The author explores the impact on consumers, analyzes international laws, and presents empirical data to underscore the need for protecting users from these misleading design practices.

In 2016, a Pew Research Center survey reflected Americans' feelings of powerlessness toward data privacy. Fast forward to 2023, and a majority express concern and a limited understanding of how their data is used. The absence of comprehensive federal privacy laws in the U.S. has led to a "wild west" scenario. Dark patterns, subtle coercion tactics for user consent, persist despite regulatory commitments. Companies exploit loopholes, leaving users with limited control. In response, users resort to apps to block cookie notices, but this comes with its own set of challenges, contributing to what is termed "notification fatigue." The struggle for data privacy persists amid a landscape of evolving methods and legal gaps.

Dark patterns, prevalent in interface design, manipulate users into unintended actions, such as agreeing to excessive data collection. The proposed narrative serious game utilizes seven game-adapted dark patterns to raise awareness and build resistance against these tactics. Through a qualitative study, they explored player behavior when confronted with these adaptations, providing insights into integrating dark patterns into gameplay and the resulting player dynamics.

In this workshop, participants addressed the pervasive issue of "dark patterns" in digital design—deceptive, manipulative practices impacting user autonomy. Human-computer interaction scholars have laid the groundwork, defining types and harms. The focus was on actionable steps: (i) refining detection methodologies, (ii) characterizing harms, and (iii) crafting effective countermeasures. By connecting scholarship to legal and design communities, the goal was to influence legislation and foster ethical digital practices.

This study explores the use of dark patterns in interface design, focusing on their manipulation of user actions, particularly in obtaining consent for extensive data collection. Introducing a narrative serious game with seven game-adapted dark patterns, they have aimed to enhance awareness and resistance. Through a qualitative, exploratory study, they investigated player behavior when confronted with these adapted patterns. Thematic analysis reveals insights into factors influencing pattern adaptation in gameplay, as well as motivations and driving forces shaping player behavior.

This paper explores interpretable dark pattern auto-detection in e-commerce interfaces, leveraging BERT, a transformer-based language model. By training the model on a text-based dataset, they identified deceptive designs and employ post-hoc explanation techniques like LIME and SHAP to unveil the terms influencing each dark pattern prediction. Their findings, aimed at preventing user manipulation, offer insights into constructing more equitable internet services.