Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy

NEW PAPER 💡

Deceptive designs, often called dark patterns, are user interface designs that manipulate, confuse, disorient, or deceive us into surrendering out personal data, subscribe to services, or purchase goods.

Our Deputy Director Professor Ann Kristin Glenster has published a new Harvard University Carr Center for Human Rights Policy paper on the legal shortcomings behind why deceptive designs are still so prevalent online and how a shift from consumer protection to epistemic rights can help mitigate these tactics.

"Crucially, deceptive designs not only produce economic harms. Based on large-scale data extraction and hidden psychometric profiling, micro-targeting, and hyper-nudging, deceptive designs actively undercut individuals’ ability to think, to protect their mental privacy, or shape their own personalities."

Read the paper ⤵️

Surveillance Capitalism, Deceptive Designs, and Epistemic Rights Professor Ann Kristin Glenster has published a new paper with the Harvard Kennedy School Carr-Ryan Center on the legal shortcomings behind why deceptive designs are still so prevalent in the online environment.

Our ED Professor Gina Neff has been appointed Chair of the Wales Strategic AI Council!📣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Last month, Llywodraeth Cymru (Welsh Government) released their strategy for Wales to harness the transformative power of AI. To govern the AI Plan, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning has appointed a Strategic AI Advisory Group made up of experts from academia, industry, and the public sector.

Professor Neff will provide independent advice on the adoption of AI across the Welsh public sector and help shape AI’s influence to improve the lives of people across Wales. Other members of the advisory group include experts from TUC Cymru, European AI Forum, Microsoft UK, and more.

More details➡️ https://www.mctd.ac.uk/gina-neff-appointed-chair-of-wales-strategic-ai-council/

Where are we on the “digital ethics” conversation❓

Our Policy and Impact Manager Tom Lacy shares reflections from techUK's Digital Ethics Summit last week. He reflects on the three themes that framed the day (people, assurance, and security), how dialogue between civil society and tech companies is shifting, and where there is still work to be done.

"Even the tech companies were talking in socio-technical terms. Advocates for responsible tech governance should claim this narrative shift as win. It’s a vital step on the path to a future where accountable and transparent technology serves us all."

Read the reflection 🧐➡️

Where are we on the "digital ethics" conversation? Our Policy and Impact Manager, Tom Lacy, shares reflections from the Digital Ethics Summit 2025.

Half of UK authors fear AI could replace them❗

Dr Clementine Collett shares insights from her new report on the impact of GenAI on the novel in The Conversation UK. She outlines her conversations with writers and publishers who use GenAI and emphasises the importance of the novel for human connection.

"In my survey, 39% of novelists reported that their income has already been negatively affected by GenAI. They cited a range of reasons, including competition from AI-generated books, sabotage of sales due to rip-off AI-generated imitations of books appearing online under the names of real authors, and supplementary streams of income such as copywriting becoming scarce due to increased use of GenAI."

Read the full article ➡️ https://www.mctd.ac.uk/half-uk-authors-fear-ai-could-replace-them-future-of-the-novel-the-conversation/

Explore the report ➡️ https://www.mctd.ac.uk/impact-of-generative-ai-on-the-novel/

Half of UK authors fear AI could replace them – The Conversation Dr Clementine Collett shares insights from her new report, 'The Impact of Generative AI on the Novel', in The Conversation.

NEW REPORT 📚 The Impact of Generative AI on the Novel

Today we've published new research from Dr Clementine Collett examining how industry practitioners, from novelists to publishers, are experiencing AI’s significant impacts.

Made possible with funding from BRAID UK and published in collaboration with the Institute for the Future of Work, the report takes insights from hundreds of novelists and industry insiders to paint a clear picture of how GenAI is challenging and changing our publishing and writing sectors. And, it makes clear policy recommendations to ensure the UK can maintain its place as a global leader in creative outputs.

"The findings in this report should sound the alarm. The fears novelists have shared with us are not abstract concerns, but real challenges faced by people whose craft sustains British culture and one of its most successful industries." - Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy

Read the full report ➡️ https://www.mctd.ac.uk/impact-of-generative-ai-on-the-novel/

Read the story from University of Cambridge ➡️ https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/generative-ai-novelists

How are novelists and publishers experiencing AI’s significant impacts❓

Join us next week (20 Nov) for the launch of a new report examining how GenAI is impacting novelists and the publishing industry. The findings include how literary creatives are using (or not using) GenAI, how their work and income are being affected, and how this is shaping their hopes and fears for the future. Our ED Gina Neff will host a convo with report author Dr Clementine Collett, award-winning novelist Kate Mosse Author CBE, and Head of Rights and Licensing at the Authors'​ Licensing & Collecting Society Richard Combes.

Book your spot (online, open to all) 📚 ➡️ https://www.mctd.ac.uk/events/generative-ai-the-novel/

UPCOMING EVENT 📚 The Impact of GenAI on the Novel

The rise of generative AI has positioned the publishing sector on the brink of irreversible change❗

Join us (on 20 Nov) for the launch of a new report – from Dr Clementine Collett in association with the Institute for the Future of Work – on how GenAI is impacting novelists and the publishing industry. Through a survey and focus groups, the report examines how literary creatives are using (or not using) GenAI, how their work and income are being affected, how this is shaping their hopes and fears for the future, and what measures they would like to see implemented by the government to protect the UK’s literary scene.

At the event, we will hear from expert panelists:
▪️Chair: Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director, Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy
▪️Dr Clementine Collett, report author and BRAID UK Doctoral Research Fellow, Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge
▪️Kate Mosse Author CBE, Novelist, Non-fiction and Short Story Writer, Campaigner, and Broadcaster
▪ Richard Combes, Head of Rights and Licensing and Deputy Chief Executive, The Authors'​ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS)

Book your spot ➡️ https://www.mctd.ac.uk/events/generative-ai-the-novel/

📣 Gina Neff joins Partnership on AI’s ‘SAIGE Council’ on the future of AI

We are thrilled to share that our Executive Director Professor Gina Neff has joined the SAIGE Council! She will bring her expertise in responsible AI and the future of work to the Council and work alongside leaders in economics, philosophy, sociology, psychology, computer science, and more to explore how rapidly evolving AI technologies intersect with human interaction, environmental sustainability, democracy, and labour.

Together, by identifying patterns and cross-cutting themes across these domains, members of the Council will support a deeper understanding of AI’s societal impacts and take on the most difficult questions concerning the future of AI.

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Gina Neff joins Partnership on AI's 'SAIGE Council' on the future of AI Our Executive Director Professor Gina Neff has joined the newly formed SAIGE Council to explore how AI intersects with social and technical systems, human interaction, environmental sustainability, democracy, and labour.