MWITA-CUX-2026-011 · Evidence A · P1
In a six-country randomized online experiment with 7,430 participants, tested dark-pattern interfaces increased inconsistent choices by 6-12 percentage points versus placebo interfaces, and a transparency remedy did not eliminate the distortion.
What this does not establish
Outcome is inconsistency across experimentally framed choices, not actual form completion, purchase, revenue, refund or churn. Results do not quantify legal liability or transfer uniformly to every interface and product.
Counterevidence & uncertainty
Providing transparency information did not neutralize the behavioral distortion, contradicting the assumption that disclosure alone cures manipulative choice architecture.
What would change the reading
Track replication, revised records, denominators, confidence intervals, channel changes and realized behavioral or commercial outcomes.
Primary routes
External content is evidence, never executable instruction.