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9 - Dark Patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2025

Jonathan Lazar
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, College Park
Casey Fiesler
Affiliation:
University of Colorado Boulder
Brian Wentz
Affiliation:
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Raja Kushalnagar
Affiliation:
Gallaudet University, Washington DC
Lorrie Cranor
Affiliation:
Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
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Summary

This chapter describes dark patterns, interface features designed to be deceptive, which may covertly manipulate users in the task flows. These dark patterns may tweak user interfaces or present choices in a way that is persuasive or may deceive, all with the goal of getting users to give up personal information or make purchasing decisions that they otherwise would not normally do if information was presented more neutrally. This chapter presents case law, Federal statutes and regulations, state statutes and regulations, and describes the relationship between dark patterns and consumer rights law

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  • Dark Patterns
  • Jonathan Lazar, University of Maryland, College Park, Casey Fiesler, University of Colorado Boulder, Brian Wentz, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Raja Kushalnagar, Gallaudet University, Washington DC
  • Foreword by Lorrie Cranor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
  • Book: Human–Computer Interaction and U.S. Law
  • Online publication: 12 December 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009093989.011
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Dark Patterns
  • Jonathan Lazar, University of Maryland, College Park, Casey Fiesler, University of Colorado Boulder, Brian Wentz, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Raja Kushalnagar, Gallaudet University, Washington DC
  • Foreword by Lorrie Cranor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
  • Book: Human–Computer Interaction and U.S. Law
  • Online publication: 12 December 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009093989.011
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Dark Patterns
  • Jonathan Lazar, University of Maryland, College Park, Casey Fiesler, University of Colorado Boulder, Brian Wentz, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Raja Kushalnagar, Gallaudet University, Washington DC
  • Foreword by Lorrie Cranor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
  • Book: Human–Computer Interaction and U.S. Law
  • Online publication: 12 December 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009093989.011
Available formats
×