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Manipulation and Numbness

The theory I have outlined in this chapter deals with manipulation and numbness in a fairly simple way. It is much more open and transparent in its operation, with the normative expectations spelled out in a way that means that particular attention is drawn to the specific claims currently often hidden in large amounts of legal text. This allows the user to essentially have the important information distilled for them, allowing for a much simpler communication of important ideas that will allow them to make a much more informed decision. It will also make it less likely for users to skip past the information in the agreements (which is a common sign of numbness) and simply make an (uninformed) decision, since particular requirements of the communication transfer mean that progressive feedback for each expectation is received, with a successful informed decision the sum of the parts agreed to be waived in the process.

As far as manipulation is concerned, this procedure shifts the focus away from leaving the onus on the user to judge what applies to them and what does not. It instead encourages the user to engage with the technology in a process that allows them to see each and every expectation that needs to be waived, which allows for little manipulation through ambiguity or misinformation, or hiding important information within the text (as previously mentioned).

Of course it is eventually likely that users may in fact become numb to the mechanisms used by any particular application of this theory, so it is important that any consent mechanism is continually re-assessed to ensure that users are continuing to make properly informed consent decisions.


next up previous contents
Next: Conclusion Up: A Theory of Informed Previous: Audience Sensitivity   Contents
Catherine Flick 2010-02-03