Browser Intent Monitoring to Block Dark Pattern Actions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) often employ 'dark patterns' that deceive users into taking actions contrary to their intent, leading to unintended consequences, such as unwanted enrollments or purchases, which can diminish user trust and credibility.
Innovation Solution
Embedding natural language processing (NLP) and user action capture into browsers to monitor user intent and issue intent-based blocking actions when a user's attempted action does not align with their intended goal, preventing unintended actions and alerting the user to potential ethical workflow concerns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dark patterns are used in GUIs to guide user actions, then user action guidance is improved, but user trust and credibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring user actions and comparing them against detected intent. When a user performs an action that contradicts their expressed intent (such as clicking 'Subscribe' after indicating they want to unsubscribe), the system provides feedback by blocking the unintended action and alerting the user to the discrepancy, thereby preventing trust erosion from dark patterns while preserving ease of operation for legitimate actions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user and the GUI actions. This intermediary system (the intent monitoring and blocking mechanism) acts as a mediator that detects user intent, validates actions against that intent, and blocks actions that contradict the intent. This intermediary protects users from dark patterns without interfering with legitimate user actions, thus maintaining trust while preserving operational ease
2Reliability
If intent monitoring and blocking actions are implemented, then user protection from dark patterns is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by implementing a multi-functional intent monitoring mechanism that works across different GUI applications and web pages. The same core functionality (detecting intent, validating actions, blocking contradictions) is applied universally regardless of the specific application or context, which manages complexity through standardization rather than requiring complex application-specific solutions for each use case
Solution Approach 2:
The intent monitoring system performs self-service by automatically detecting user intent from their actions and interface interactions, and autonomously blocking actions that contradict the detected intent without requiring manual configuration or complex external systems. The system serves itself by using the same computational resources and detection mechanisms already present in modern browsers and operating systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes embedding natural language processing (NLP) and/or user action capture into a browser to monitor a user's intent when navigating web page(s) within the browser. An indication of a navigation to a first web page via the browser is received and it is determined whether a first action attempted to be taken on the first web page matches the user's intent. In response to a determination that the first action attempted to be taken on the first web page does not match the user's intent, an intent-based blocking action is issued to prevent the first action on the first web page. A computer program product according to another embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are readable and/or executable by a computer to cause the computer to perform the foregoing method.