DATA PROTECTION DAY 2024

Data Protection Day is an annual event celebrated internationally on 28 January. Its aim is to raise awareness of the importance of privacy and data protection, particularly in light of the ever-increasing challenges faced in our increasingly globalized and digitised world. This year, the Information Commissioner, has published an awareness-raising audio-visual, highlighting key information relating to deceptive design patterns in online platform interfaces (the “Video”).

Deceptive design patterns are considered conniving interfaces and user journeys implemented by online platforms. They may show up as tricky colour schemes, frustrating mazes, sneaky designs, and confusing language. Online platforms use these techniques to influence you into making unintended, unwilling and potentially harmful decisions, often into a direction that benefits them more than it benefits you.

The Video offers practical guidance to the public and organisations on how to assess and avoid deceptive design patterns which so regularly influence users’ online journeys.