Data Brokers’ and AI Firms’ Opt-Out Forms Are Built to Fail, Report Finds
2026-05-20 · WIRED
AI companies are allegedly designing their opt-out forms to be intentionally confusing and manipulative, because why make it easy for users to protect their data when you can just dark-pattern them into submission? A new study found 38 data collectors, including AI firms and defense companies, using deceptive design tricks to keep harvesting your information. Turns out the same industry building 'intelligent' systems can't seem to figure out how to make a simple 'stop collecting my data' button.