[trustable-software] Dark Patterns for unethical user interfaces

[Niall Dalton]

Whatever faults we may find with it, I'm sure it'd improve the quality of
our profession if most software engineers tried to live up to that. I like
to think that, in absence of any formal thinking around, most people try.

However, what worries me is the vocal minority concerned with their
"personal brand", the conference circuit, and their next promotion, that
have an undue influence on technology common used by developers. I fear it
may take a large-scale (un)natural disaster, from piled software on
real-world things connected to networks, before we step back and realize
the direction we're collectively headed is not ok.


On Sun, Jul 31, 2016 at 9:51 AM, Colin Robbins <colin.robbins at qonex.com>
wrote:

> Hi Paul,
>
> This would seem like a good start on a code of ethics for software
> engineers.
> http://www.acm.org/about/se-code
>
> Not had any experience of it.
>
> On the security side, most professional bodies have a code of ethics that
> members have to subscribed to. It's fundamanal in the securty world, as the
> line between ethical and unethical behaviour is very grey.
>
>
>
> Colin Robbins
> Managing Consultant,
> Qonex, the consulting arm of Nexor
>
> 0115 953 5541
>
> _____________________________
> From: Paul Sherwood <paul.sherwood at codethink.co.uk>
> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2016 09:34
> Subject: [trustable-software] Dark Patterns for unethical user interfaces
> To: <trustable-software at lists.veristac.io>
>
>
> Hi all,
> I came across darkpatterns.org from an article in Ars Technica today
> [1], and immediately recognised that there may be some interest for
> readers here.
>
> Although I've noticed some of the user-interface scams that are
> mentioned there, it hadn't occurred to me that there are so many big
> name companies dedicating huge amounts of deliberate *effort* into
> tricking people in such systematic ways.
>
> Harry Brignull's call in his presentation [2] for a code of ethics and
> public shaming immediately made me think of the automotive situation,
> where emissions-cheating software was passed of as “this was a couple of
> software engineers who put this in for whatever reason.” I don't think
> anyone really believes that was true, and I'm sure there are many
> situations where engineers are being pressured to do the wrong thing.
>
> I think we should start thinking about how best to establish a solid
> code of ethics for software engineering here. Any ideas on how to start
> that?
>
> br
> Paul
>
> [1]
> http://arstechnica.co.uk/security/2016/07/dark-patterns-what-are-they/
> [2] https://youtu.be/1KVyFio8gw4
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> trustable-software mailing list
> trustable-software at lists.veristac.io
> https://lists.veristac.io/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/trustable-software
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> trustable-software mailing list
> trustable-software at lists.veristac.io
> https://lists.veristac.io/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/trustable-software
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.veristac.io/pipermail/trustable-software/attachments/20160731/c861f9fc/attachment.html>