Manipulation by design

Jan Trzaskowski ()
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Jan Trzaskowski: Copenhagen Business School and Aalborg University

Electronic Markets, 2024, vol. 34, issue 1, No 14, 13 pages

Abstract: Abstract Human behaviour is affected by architecture, including how online user interfaces are designed. The purpose of this article is to provide insights into the regulation of behaviour modification by the design of choice architecture in light of the European Union data protection law (GDPR) and marketing law (UCPD). It has become popular to use the term ‘dark pattern’ (also ‘deceptive practices’) to describe such practices in online environments. The term provides a framework for identifying and discussing ‘problematic’ design practices, but the definitions and descriptions are not sufficient in themselves to draw the fine line between legitimate (lawful) persuasion and unlawful manipulation, which requires an inquiry into agency, self-determination, regulation and legal interpretation. The main contribution of this article is to place manipulative design, including ‘dark patterns’, within the framework of persuasion (marketing), technology (persuasive technology) and law (privacy and marketing).

Keywords: Manipulation; Design; Dark patterns; Marketing; Privacy; Agency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s12525-024-00699-y

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