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consent-and-agency

Design
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Designing for informed user consent, opt-out, and human override.

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How to use this skill

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  2. Copy the prompt below and paste it into your agent.
  3. Review the proposed files and risks before you approve installation.
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I want to install this Agent Skill for this project in Codex.

Source SKILL.md: https://github.com/Owl-Listener/ai-design-skills/blob/HEAD/claude-plugin/ai-alignment-reasoning/skills/consent-and-agency/SKILL.md

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First, summarize what it does, its dependencies, license status if identifiable, and any risks. Show the exact files you propose to add under .agents/skills/consent-and-agency/. Do not write files or run scripts until I approve.

After I approve, install the complete skill folder, including required referenced files, into that project location. Verify it is discoverable, then tell me its actual invocation name and how to use it. Do not claim it is installed until you have verified it.

Copying this prompt does not install or run the skill. Review third-party files before use. Codex skill guide

Consent and Agency

AI products make decisions, take actions, and process information on behalf of users. Consent and agency design ensures users remain in control — understanding what the AI does, agreeing to it, and being able to override it.

Informed Consent for AI

Users should understand and agree to:

  • What data the AI uses: Conversation history, personal data, uploaded documents, browsing behaviour
  • What the AI does with it: Training, personalisation, sharing with third parties, storage
  • What actions the AI takes: Sending messages, making changes, accessing systems
  • What the AI can't do: Limitations that might affect the user's expectations Consent is not a checkbox at sign-up. It's an ongoing design challenge throughout the experience.

Designing for Agency

Agency means the user feels — and is — in control:

  • Opt-in over opt-out: AI features should be activated by the user, not imposed
  • Reversibility: AI actions should be undoable wherever possible
  • Override mechanisms: The user can always stop, redirect, or override the AI
  • Exit paths: The user can disengage from AI assistance at any point without penalty
  • Preference controls: The user can adjust AI behaviour, scope, and autonomy levels

Consent Patterns

  • Progressive consent: Ask for permission incrementally as new capabilities are needed, not all at once
  • Contextual consent: Ask at the moment the action is about to happen, not in advance
  • Granular consent: Let users consent to specific actions or data uses, not blanket permissions
  • Revocable consent: Users can withdraw consent and have that withdrawal take effect

Agency Anti-Patterns

  • Dark patterns: Making it hard to opt out or override the AI
  • Consent fatigue: Asking for permission so often that users click through without reading
  • Learned helplessness: AI does so much that users forget how to do things themselves
  • Invisible actions: The AI takes actions the user doesn't know about
  • Irreversible defaults: AI actions that can't be undone without user awareness

Design Artefacts

  • Consent flow diagrams per feature
  • Agency checkpoint specifications
  • Override mechanism inventory
  • Data use transparency matrix
  • Opt-out path designs