① We have all encountered them, in both our personal and professional lives. Think about the times you felt tricked or frustrated by a membership or subscription that had a seamless sign-up process but was later difficult to cancel. Something that should be simple and transparent can be complicated, intentionally or unintentionally, in ways that impair consumer choice. These are examples of dark patterns.
② First coined in 2010 by user experience expert Harry Brignull, “ dark patterns” is a catch-all term for practices that manipulate user interfaces to influence the decision-making ability of users. Brignull identifies 12 types of common dark patterns, ranging from misdirection and hidden costs to “roach motel,” where a user experience seems easy and intuitive at the start, but turns difficult when the user tries to get out.
③ In a 2019 study of 53,000 product pages and 11,000 websites, researchers found that about one in 10 employs these design practices. Though widely prevalent, the concept o f dark patterns is still not well understood. Business and nonprofit leaders should be aware of dark patterns and try to avoid the gray areas they engender.
④ Where is the line between ethical, persuasive design and dark patterns? Businesses should engage in conversations with IT, compliance, risk, and legal teams to review their privacy policy, and include in the discussion the customer/user experience designers and coders responsible for the company’s user interface, as well as the marketers and advertisers responsible for sign-ups, checkout baskets, pricing, and promotions. Any or all these teams can play a role in creating or avoiding “digital deception.”
⑤ Lawmakers and regulators are slowly starting to address the ambiguity around dark patterns, most recently at the state level. In March, the California Attorney General announced the approval of additional regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) that “ensure that consumers will not be confused or misled when seeking to exercise their data privacy rights.” The regulations aim to ban dark patterns—this means prohibiting companies from using a confusing language or unnecessary steps such as forcing them to click through multiple screens or listen to reasons why they shouldn’t opt out.”
⑥ As more states consider promulgating additional regulations, there is a need for greater accountability from within the business community. Dark patterns also can be addressed on a self-regulatory basis, but only if organizations hold themselves accountable, not just to legal requirements but also to industry best practices and standards.
1.1. It can be learned from the first two paragraphs that dark patterns ________
A improve user experiences
B leak user information for profit
C undermine users’ decision-making
D remind users of hidden costs
解析：选C。
C推理判断题。题干已给出明确定位(前两段)，首段列举黑暗模式的例子，并指出它们损害消费者的选择权，第二段①句进一步指出，黑暗模式实指操纵用户界面以影响用户决策能力的做法。综合可知，黑暗模式损害用户的决策，[C]正确。故选C。
2.2. The 2019 study on dark patterns is mentioned to show ________
A their major flaws
B their complex designs
C their severe damage
D their strong presence
解析：选D。
D推理判断题。根据题干关键词 The 2019study定位到第三段。该段①句引用2019年针对黑暗模式展开的一项涵盖5.3万个产品页面和1.1万个网站的研究，说明该项研究的发现“大约有十分之一的页面或网站运用了黑暗设计手法”，②句明确问题“黑暗模式广泛存在，却仍未被充分了解”，③句针对该问题提议各大组织领导了解并避免运用黑暗模式。可见，文中借该项研究说明黑暗模式的现状或问题“大量运用”，进而引出相关建议，[D]正确。故选D。
3.3. To handle digital deception, businesses should ________
A listen to customer feedback
B talk with relevant teams
C turn to independent agencies
D rely on professional training
解析：选B。
B细节理解题。根据题干关键词 digital deception定位到第四段，该段②③句就企业应对黑暗模式的具体措施提出建议：企业应与IT、合规、风险及法律团队进行对话，并让设计及销售相关人员参与讨论；所有这些团队都对“数字欺诈”有着重要影响。可见，作者建议企业通过与相关团队谈话来应对数字欺诈，[B]正确。故选B。
4.4. The additional regulations under the CCPA are intended to ________
A guide users through opt-out processes
B protect consumers from being tricked
C grant companies data privacy rights
D restrict access to problematic content
解析：选B。
B细节理解题。根据题干关键词 The additional regulations、CCPA 定位到第五段。该段②③句指出CCPA补充规定的目的在于确保消费者在寻求行使数据隐私权时不会被迷惑或误导，严禁企业使用黑暗模式欺骗用户，[B]正确。故选B。
5.5. According to the last paragraph, a key to coping with dark patterns is ________
A new legal requirements
B businesses’ self-discipline
C strict regulatory standards
D consumers’ safety awareness
解析：选B。
B 细节理解题。题干已给出明确定位(末段)，末段①句总体呼吁商界内部增强责任感，②句具体指出，黑暗模式也可以在各商业机构(企业)自我监管的基础上得以解决，随后进一步阐明如何进行自我监管。可见，企业的自我监管/约束是应对黑暗模式的一个关键，[B]正确。故选B。
