Dr Mark Leiser holds a PhD in law and is a recognised expert in deceptive design, dark patterns, and the regulation of digital manipulation. A prolific academic, he has published extensively on the intersection of law, technology, and behavioural design. He authors the forthcoming book Dark Patterns, Deceptive Design and the Law (Bloomsbury, 2025), which explores the full spectrum of manipulative design techniques and their legal implications—from user interface tactics to deeper systemic architectural forms.
Regulators, consumer and data protection bodies, and international organisations seek Dr Leiser’s expertise regularly. His work has informed the European Commission (including the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive team), the OECD, and several national governments. In 2023–2024, his research was presented to:
- The consumer protection authorities of the European Union at Consumer Protection Day in Madrid
- The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom
- The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) in the Netherlands, including contributions to Dutch government reports on dark patterns
- The Nobel Prize Summit
- International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)
- Various professional privacy organisations and civil society groups across Europe
Dr Leiser welcomes enquiries regarding expert witness services in cases involving dark patterns and deceptive design, particularly in the areas of consumer protection, digital platforms, and AI-driven user manipulation.