| Title | Dark Patterns for Unethical Computer Science |
| Publication Type | Conference Paper |
| Year of Publication | 2025 |
| Authors | Pautasso, C. |
| Conference Name | 31st European Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs, People, and Practices (EuroPLoP) |
| Pages | 37–362 |
| Month | July |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Conference Location | Kloster Irsee, Germany |
| Keywords | Ethics; Dark Patterns |
| Abstract | As computer science changes people’s lives and reprograms their world, its ethical implications should not be underestimated. In this paper we present eight dark patterns, which reflect how computer scientists focusing on simply doing their jobs, in specific situations, may blissfully ignore or willfully disregard the significant impact of their wonderful artificial machines on the ethical principles of goodness, truth and fairness. In other words, computer science is not neutral, as its applications and the design of information technology – implicitly or explicitly – reflect the ethical values of their makers. The dark patterns of forgetful mentalist, reverse improver, real virtuality escapist and willful ignorant disregard the ethical principle of truth. The principle of fairness is violated by the faceless assistant and reckless maintainer dark patterns, while the addiction peddler and autonomous killer dark patterns show a fundamental lack of concern towards the goodness principle. In writing this paper, our goal is to ensure the avoidance of these dark patterns in the future by raising awareness about them |
| DOI | 10.1007/978-3-032-19157-1_16 |
| Citation Key | 2025:europlop:unethical |
| Refereed Designation | Refereed |
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