Personal Data Management in Smart Product-Service Systems: Preliminary Design Strategies to Avoid User Manipulation in Democratic Processes

Alessandra C. Canfield Petrecca (), Carlo Vezzoli and Fabrizio Ceschin
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Alessandra C. Canfield Petrecca: LeNSlab Polimi, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy
Carlo Vezzoli: LeNSlab Polimi, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy
Fabrizio Ceschin: Design for Sustainability Research Group, Brunel Design School, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: The use of digital technologies in Product Service Systems (PSSs) has increased in recent years. More and more smart devices are used in these models, collecting significant amounts of data to provide personalized and responsive products and services. However, data extraction has been causing disruptions in the social sphere, manipulating users, threatening democratic processes, and harming the social dimension of sustainability. To mitigate these problems associated with user data, some solutions on the market claim to take a more ethical approach. This article presents the preliminary results of a study aiming to understand what features in these solutions may favour the resilience of democratic processes and reduction in user manipulation due to personal data extraction and personalized activity. It also examines how designers can use them to develop smart PSSs that incorporate these elements and features in their process. Based on a literature review, three key elements relevant to personal data and democracy were assessed and applied to analyze 30 cases. The results provided a preliminary list of 46 features and 15 strategies for designers to embed these elements in the design of smart PSSs, as well as a conceptual framework. The study concludes with recommendations for future research.

Keywords: smart sustainable product-service systems design; personal data; user manipulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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