Global and Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Dark Patterns and Deceptive Design Practice

Abstract

Dark patterns and deceptive designs (DPs) refer to user interfaces (UIs) that trick people into interactions that benefit the service providers. Today, academic research, legal action, and media coverage has raised awareness among a diversity of stakeholders worldwide. Yet, the lens has focused on Western and English contexts. We propose a Special Interest Group (SIG) that centres on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary engagement. The organizing team, who hail from a plurality of nations and disciplines, will spark discussion by sharing their knowledge—findings, frameworks, methods, and tools—and culturally-sensitive perspectives on deception in modern digital products and services. Attendees will participate in a small group drawing activity, whereby culturally-specific DPs and disciplinary perspectives can be surfaced and communicated without reliance on a specific language or cultural frame. This SIG is expected to draw in a diversity of designers, researchers, security experts, and legal scholars concerned about ethical design practice.