Dark patterns in consent statements
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2019-08-29
Language
en
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Abstract
Dark patterns are design nudges that steer peoples’ behaviour in an unconscious
way through persuasive interface design. Increasingly found in privacy
consent statements, they possibly undermine principles of the new General
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the EU, which aim at giving users
control over their personal data, assuming that people engage in consent
statements in a rational and deliberate manner. This online study (N = 228)
investigated whether three of the most common dark patterns (default, aesthetic
manipulation, obstruction) lead users to choose a privacy-unfriendly
option over a privacy-friendly one, even if the latter one is rationally superior.
Further, it was examined if the aforementioned dark patterns decrease
users’ perception of control over their personal data in consent statement
situations. Although the majority of participants always chose the privacyunfriendly
option and reported a lack of control over their personal data, we
did not find clear support for this being due to the design nudges. Using
mixed-effects modelling, only obstruction showed a marginally significant effect
in the expected direction on the consent decision. Regarding perceived
control, again only obstruction displayed a significant effect, however, this
time in the opposite direction as expected. Overall, our findings support the
notion that the current consent model does not work as intended and give
insights into why this might be the case.
Keywords: dark patterns; privacy; design nudges; GDPR; consent statements
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen