In a web context, I was thinking this when I checked out the web site of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) [1]; why would they use a thin, small typeface with light gray color on a bright/white background which makes the text less appealing to read? It must be subtle sabotage from within!
(Some may counter this with Hanlon's razor [2]; Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.)