Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon is a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping students with a platform to combat deceptive design practices in the digital world. Our mission is to foster a culture of ethical innovation and problem-solving, addressing the pressing issues we encounter in our online experiences.
In this inaugural edition of DPBH 2023, we're dedicated to nurturing out-of-the-box thinking and innovation in young minds, with a special emphasis on engineering students from every corner of India. Join us as we work together to unmask dark patterns and transform the way we interact with technology
Read More..
Join us at the biggest global platform for innovators and visionaries of tomorrow to begin crafting a digital world rooted in transparency and ethical user experiences. Start today, shape a fairer digital landscape.
Design and prototype innovative app or software-based solutions that can detect the use, type, and scale of dark patterns on e-commerce platforms
The minimal scopes and prerogatives of the proposed solution for identifying irregularities in e-commerce platforms are as under:
It should be able to spot instances of user interface deception, which is when e-commerce websites use deceptive user interfaces to trick or perplex users into taking unintended actions.
Include an algorithm to identify websites using misleading strategies to make it challenging for users to cancel subscriptions or choose to not be charged repeatedly.
Device a system that analyses product listings for instances when crucial information (such pricing, availability, or specifications) are omitted or incorrectly presented or kept hidden or disguised over long time periods.
The solution should identify when e-commerce platforms use user data in ways that may violate privacy norms, without clear and informed authorization.
It should identify instances in which websites require users to register for accounts without a legitimate reason, impeding the checkout process.
It should evaluate the degree to which e-commerce websites limit user options by directing visitors towards particular goods or services.
The solution should be able to detect instances where e-commerce sites use fake timers or stock level indicators to create a false sense of urgency and scarcity.
Also identify hidden costs in the checkout process, such as shipping fees, taxes, or additional charges that are not transparently disclosed.
The solution should also scrutinises user-generated content (reviews and ratings) for signs of manipulated or fake reviews meant to deceive potential buyers.
Build suitable algorithm which assesses the degree of compliance of e-commerce platforms with data transparency regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA or similar norms as applicable in India, and if not, flag the degree of potential violations.
Develop an algorithm that can accurately detect a wide range of dark patterns on e-commerce websites, with lowest possible false positives and false negatives, to ensure reliable detection.
The solution should be a user-friendly browser extension or app interface which should provide clear and actionable information to users, with minimal delay, when a dark pattern is detected, allowing them to make informed decisions.
The solution should have a secure and scalable central/ distributed server infrastructure for hosting and managing the repository of known dark patterns, ensuring it is continuously updated with new patterns and the inference engine so generated may be used 'on the cloud' or as 'embedded intelligence' in the plug-in or app or otherwise.
The signature pattern repository should have a versioning system, allowing for historical tracking and comparison of pattern changes over time to adapt to evolving dark patterns.
Utilize generative AI or similarly efficient tools to proactively identify and adapt to existing as well as on emerging dark patterns not yet included in the central or distributed repository.
Develop an integrated system for gathering and analysing user data to increase detection accuracy while maintaining user privacy and adhering to data and privacy protection laws in India or otherwise.
Include a crowdsourcing component that lets users add new dark patterns they discover, to the central or distributed repository by reporting and validating them.
To reach a larger audience, make sure the browser extension or app is compatible with well-known web browsers (such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge etc.
Implement advanced Generative AI models and machine learning algorithms which may be capable of classifying website elements and user behaviors, enhancing the detection of dynamic and context-dependent dark patterns, and ensuring a more resilient and adaptable detection system.
Optimize the performance of the solution (extension or app etc.), to minimize resource consumption while maintaining real-time or near-real-time detection capabilities.
The participants must refer to the following features & functionalities while developing the solution (in the form of browser extensions, add-ons, plugins, or applications or mobile apps etc.) to find dark patterns on e-commerce platforms:
Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon is a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping students with a platform to combat deceptive design practices in the digital world. Our mission is to foster a culture of ethical innovation and problem-solving, addressing the pressing issues we encounter in our online experiences. In this inaugural edition of DPBH 2023, we're dedicated to nurturing out-of-the-box thinking and innovation in young minds, with a special emphasis on engineering students from every corner of India. Join us as we work together to unmask dark patterns and transform the way we interact with technology.
Register NowAt The Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon (DPBH) 2023, we're pioneering a shift towards transparency and trust in digital design. Our mission is to empower change-makers of all backgrounds to combat deceptive practices. Uncover the secrets behind and expose and eradicate dark patterns in the digital world.
We welcome participants from all walks of academia. If you're a student pursuing a graduate, post-graduate, or Ph.D. program in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), you're invited to showcase your talent and bring forth innovative ideas that challenge the status quo of deceptive design practices in the world of e-commerce.
