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Design+ Meaningful digital consent: A VSD study

cues to determine the trustworthiness of the app provider participant stressing proactive design to do the least harm
(e.g., familiarity, reputation, history, professional standards, and the most good. Participants emphasized the need to be
app reviews, and size). Several participants regard reading compassionate by being proactive in the design:
notices as a waste of time or pointless, thus not engaging Understanding that there may be people from multiple
with them. There was a small group of participants who walks of life using this app, and it being presented in
read notices as they felt responsible for understanding what a way that, you know, if you have questions, just click
they were getting into. Moreover, some felt anxious about here… to open an email box or send off your question
their data and wanted to make sure they knew everything before you agree. You can have a Contact Us button
before they started using the app. Participants were divided right there so that if people don’t quite understand
on why notices are designed this way. Some believed that, you’re giving them a very easy ability to then get
organizations were meeting legal requirements, while a few their questions answered, even if it’s not immediate,
mentioned that designing notices is not an organization’s but so that it just makes it more user-accessible.
priority. Others saw it as an intentional effort to obscure (Interviewee 16)
information and create confusion. The full description of The privacy value was mentioned by some participants,
the privacy experiences, which were navigated as part of often referred to as autonomy. For some, this meant
the interview, will be reported elsewhere. freedom and choice, or having the ability to say yes or no
4.2. Empirical investigation: Characterizing values to data collecting. A couple of people mentioned privacy
notifications as a mechanism. Others defined it as letting
The most shared values were related to honesty and helpfulness. users know if they have control, asking notices to be clear
Honesty, often described as transparency, emphasizes clarity about privacy-related information such as anonymity,
in how data are collected and used, providing breadth and risks, privacy and security safeguards, and responsibilities.
depth of information. Participants highlighted the importance
of writing notices in clear language to avoid confusion or 4.3. Technical investigation: Innovative privacy
uncertainty. Many stressed the need to be upfront, making notices
notices readily available to avoid gatekeeping information. Overall, participants preferred privacy notices with
Respect, responsibility, and accountability were also noted, innovative designs but found overly simple approaches
including addressing privacy breaches with actionable steps. insufficient. While the table of contents approach (Slack)
One participant shared their experience: helped organize and navigate information, participants
I’ve had like data breaches on certain accounts, still found it overwhelming. Similarly, summaries of key
[and] I’ve had some of the companies throw it under points (Coursera) and paragraph summary statements
the rug and [not] actually address it. So, I guess if (Canva) were seen as incomplete and lacking depth.
something like that did happen, they [should] make Even though it’s better than a plain block of text, it’s
sure customers are aware and do things to protect not engaging enough for most users. (Interviewee 5)
themselves, like changing passwords and stuff like It doesn’t feel comprehensive – if I wanted to learn more,
that. (Interviewee 11) I’d have to work too hard to find it. (Interviewee 6)
Helpfulness was also emphasized, with participants
advocating for accessible and user-friendly notices, Across these approaches, participants criticized
formatted in chunks or short summaries of one to summaries as being too vague, oversimplified, and
three pages. Suggestions included highlighting key untrustworthy. Simplified notices were also seen to obscure
points, standardizing formats for better comparisons, transparency, as participants shared:
and making notices more approachable through The key points are so vague that I’m left wondering
conversational language, colors, and even humor. One what’s being hidden. (Interviewee 15)
participant suggested a playful approach, “I know this The summaries don’t add much – they’re too vague
is a bummer, but you guys, you should really read and miss important details. (Interviewee 11)
this.” (Interviewee 17) The nutritional label approach (iOS and Google Play
Universal usability was also a key theme in most interviews, app stores) received initial praise for its straightforward
with the most common word being accessible. Participants design and clarity. Participants appreciated its digestibility,
believed notices should be inclusive and user-friendly across with one stating, “This approach is great for people who
varying populations, such as immigrants, people with English want to read the full details, but in an organized way”
as a second language, or people with intellectual disabilities. (Interviewee 6).
The attention-deficit disorder was also mentioned a few Despite having a progressive disclosure through links,
times. Empathy and equity were recurring ideas, with one concerns arose over its oversimplification, which could

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 6 doi: 10.36922/dp.8158