The Importance of the Ecosystem Effort

In recent weeks, regulatory enforcement has noticeably increased. The EU introduced the new AI Act, and the Digital Services Act (DSA) is now in effect for all digital entities. We've stressed the role of regulators and reference frameworks in creating clear rules to safeguard users in the digital realm. Yet, we must not neglect the importance of the entire ecosystem's contribution to this effort.

The fight against dark patterns is sometimes depicted as a David versus Goliath battle, suggesting we are alone in combating the deceptive techniques used by large companies. However, this view is not accurate and is quickly changing. A variety of stakeholders and experts are coming together to change the existing paradigm and establish a new, equitable one.

Advocating for fair and ethical practices in the digital space necessitates collaboration with academics and researchers. Their expertise and research are instrumental in understanding and combating dark patterns. Participation in workshops and academic community engagement bolster our work with solid research and contribute to fair pattern development for online interfaces.

Our founder and CEO, Marie Potel-Saville, recently took part in the "Fair Patterns for Online Interfaces" workshop at the Lorentz Centre. This underscored the importance of strong research foundations in our work. Academic contributions are essential in the fight against dark patterns, especially in pattern definition, taxonomy creation, and equipping regulators with the knowledge needed to form legal frameworks.

The business aspect is essential for success. The myth that deceptive design is a necessary evil for business sustainability needs to be debunked. Studies have shown that in areas like editorial subscriptions, clients who were not lured into subscribing were more profitable after six months. Additionally, brand value and perception were better from the start. This concept of focusing on long-term business, rather than a short-term view, is not new. Adopting a holistic approach to sustainable business models shows that longer engagement with products and services not only benefits the business economically, but also enhances overall sustainability by prolonging product lifecycles.

In our ongoing battle against dark patterns, it's crucial to acknowledge the role of consumers. Raising consumer awareness and encouraging empowerment is key to establishing a balanced digital landscape. By educating users about dark patterns, and offering tools to identify and avoid them, we can enable individuals to make educated decisions and hold businesses responsible for their actions. Our podcast conversation with Cindy Cohn , the Executive Director of Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) , underscored the significance of legal institutions in backing consumers and augmenting their protection. We also discussed the part that schools and professional training should play, as pointed out by Harry Brignull in our most recent episode.

Together with academia, researchers, regulators, and consumers, we can shape a digital landscape rooted in transparency, trust, and ethical design. As we progress, our advocacy for stronger regulations and enforcement against dark patterns will persist. Collaborating with industry experts and consumer advocacy groups can help us build a digital space that values user rights and ethical practices. This collective effort can guarantee a fair and transparent online environment for everyone.

From Fairpatterns, we issue an open call for everyone to join the fair side of design!

The highlights of this month!

• Consumers’ right week: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7174298289360556032
• AI Act: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7173672437362909185
• Women in Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7171761617011994624
• DMA into full effect: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7171059230584594433
• Harry’s podcast episode: https://fairpatterns.com/category/blog-podcast/

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