What is 'privacy zuckering', and why is it considered a dark pattern?

'Privacy Zuckering' refers to deceptive user interface design patterns that trick users into sharing more personal information than they intend to. It's considered a dark pattern because it exploits users' trust and lack of attention to detail to manipulate them into actions that benefit the company at the expense of user privacy. This often involves presenting privacy options in a confusing or misleading way, making it difficult for users to understand the consequences of their choices. For example, a website might have a long and complex privacy policy that is difficult to read and understand, or it might use ambiguous language to suggest that users are in control of their data when in reality they are not. Another example is pre-selecting default settings that share user data with third parties, requiring users to actively opt out if they want to maintain their privacy. By leveraging these deceptive tactics, companies can gather more user data for personalized advertising and other purposes, often without users' informed consent. The term is named after Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (Facebook), as the company has been criticized for employing such practices.