The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued an advisory to all e-commerce platforms, urging them to take immediate steps to ensure their platforms do not engage in deceptive or unfair trade practices commonly referred to as dark patterns.
The CCPA has advised e-commerce platforms to audit and eliminate dark patterns within three months, promoting fair practices and consumer trust.
Violators face notices under the 2023 guidelines.
A Joint Working Group will monitor compliance and raise consumer awareness.
Thirteen types of dark patterns have been officially defined by the government.
All platforms have been advised to conduct self-audits within three months from the date of the advisory to identify such practices and implement corrective measures. Based on the self-audit findings, platforms are also encouraged to provide self-declarations affirming that they do not engage in any dark patterns. These declarations are intended to promote a fair digital ecosystem and strengthen consumer trust in e-commerce platforms, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said in a press release.
The CCPA has also issued notices to certain platforms found to be in violation of the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. The authority continues to closely monitor compliance with these guidelines and has observed several instances of dark patterns across e-commerce sites. Platforms are, therefore, advised to avoid using manipulative design interfaces that mislead consumers or influence their decision-making unfairly.
To further this initiative, the Department of Consumer Affairs, government of India, has constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from relevant ministries, regulators, voluntary consumer organisations, and national law universities. The JWG has been tasked with identifying violations of dark patterns on e-commerce platforms and regularly sharing findings with the Department of Consumer Affairs. It will also recommend suitable awareness programmes to educate consumers about such practices.
As part of its broader strategy to enhance consumer protection in the digital era, the government of India had issued the guidelines in 2023, identifying and defining 13 types of dark patterns: false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisements, nagging, trick wording, SaaS billing, and rogue malwares.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
