Dark Patterns True or False ?
It is ethical to collect user data without informing them, as long as the data is anonymized
False
What are the three pillars of the foundations of Ethical Designs
Deontological ethics
Consequentialist ethics
Virtue ethics
An approach ensures that design decisions respect users’ rights, promote inclusivity, minimize harm, and consider long-term societal impact.
Ethical design
Many websites collect excessive user data without clear consent, violating this fundamental ethical design principle.
Privacy
This AI tool was used to design a website for a fictional show store, showcasing several manipulative tactics to increase customer engagement.
ChatGPT
It is acceptable for a company to use "confirmshaming," a tactic where a user is guilted into accepting cookies or terms, by framing the rejection button negatively (e.g., "No thanks, I don’t want to enjoy a better experience").
False
A moral theory that judges actions based on whether they follow a set of rules, rather than the consequences of those actions.
Deontological ethics
The foundation of ethical design, this principle ensures user control over their data and prevents surveillance.
Privacy
When an AI hiring system rejects candidates from certain demographics due to biased training data, it demonstrates this ethical design flaw.
Algorithmic bias
In the study, ChatGPT was found to incorporate this unethical wording to create a sense of urgency, often misleading customers into making purchases.
" Only a few left"
A company that collects users’ personal data and shares it with third parties without their knowledge is violating data ethics, even if the company claims that users agreed to this when they accepted the general terms of service.
True
A person's character is more important than the consequences of their actions.
Virtue ethics
Before a product can be functional or delightful, it must meet this standard to ensure it works consistently as intended.
Reliability
Social media platforms that intentionally design notifications to keep users engaged for longer, leading to addiction, are an example of this ethical design flaw.
Addictive design
One of the dark patterns generated by ChatGPT involved this, tricking users into signing up for a newsletter without their explicit consent.
Pre-checked newsletter signup boxes
Asking for excessive personal information, unrelated to the task at hand (such as social security number for a newsletter), is a violation of ethical data collection practices.
True
A moral theory that states that the rightness or wrongness of an action is based on its consequences.
Consequentialist ethics
Ethical design must not only work but also remove unnecessary difficulties for users. This principle focuses on usability and accessibility.
Convenience
Users are required to enter payment details for a "free trial" and are charged automatically without clear reminders.
Dark patterns (Manipulative UX)
AI-generated websites, for example, ChatGPT, often use these types of fake elements to build trust and persuade customers to make purchases.
Fake reviews
An online retailer who automatically adds insurance or protection plans to a user's cart during checkout and makes it difficult to remove these items is using a form of dark pattern known as "disguised ads."
False (This is an example of a "forced continuity" or "roach motel" dark pattern, not disguised ads.)
List the approaches associated with each of the pillars of the foundations of ethical designs
Deontological ethics: Rights Approach and Justice Approach
Consequentialists ethics: Utilitarian approach and common good approach
Virtue Ethics: virtue approach
At the top of the ethical design hierarchy, a product reaches this level when it creates a meaningful and positive user experience.
Delightful
Companies design products to degrade over time, forcing users to upgrade.
Unethical Business Practices
The results from ChatGPT's web design experiment showed that AI often incorporates this design to manipulate users' behaviors to drive sales.
Dark Patterns