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Is there a software design principle that says an application should never alter or delete a user’s work done in the application without them knowing?

It’s very similar to the Principle of Least Astonishment, but specifically referring to modifying a user’s data. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_astonishment

For a random example off the top of my head, imagine an image-editing application brightening or darkening an image (without informing the user) every time they save it, to offset their desktop gamma settings.

user3163495
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    It's either itself called POLA or is a part of the more generalized idea that is called that. There isn't a more specific phrase for it. – Ouroborus Sep 03 '23 at 02:49

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