ESCWA is contributing to United Nations Behavioural Science Week 2026 by exploring how behavioural insights, artificial intelligence, digital markets and consumer protection intersect. The intervention examines how AI-driven personalization, targeted advertising, recommender systems and digital choice architecture shape consumer decisions online, alongside risks such as dark patterns, limited transparency and barriers to informed choice.
ESCWA also presents findings from its recent study, Strengthening consumer protection in e-commerce across the Arab region: Addressing behavioural biases and dark patterns. Covering 22 Arab countries and 11 indicators, the study shows how regional consumer protection frameworks address these risks and how behavioural insights and AI analytics can help detect harmful practices, improve transparency and support safer digital consumption.
Athens, Greece
