E-commerce sites must adhere to regulations concerning manipulative design tactics known as 'dark patterns', according to Food Minister Pralhad Joshi.
The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Prahlad Joshi, has underscored the necessity for e-commerce platforms to adhere to government rules addressing 'dark patterns' aimed at upholding consumer rights. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has listed 13 deceptive practices, labeled 'dark patterns', which exploit consumers' choices, such as false urgency and subscription traps.
To guarantee effective implementation, a joint working group will be formed, engaging over 50 major digital marketplace players for discussions on dark pattern guidelines compliance. Notable players included in these discussions are Paytm, Swiggy, Zomato, IndiaMart, and Thomas Cook, along with other industry giants.
The government intervention stems from an increase in consumer complaints concerning these manipulative practices. In response, more than 400 notices have been issued to e-commerce platforms and retailers, requesting the removal of such deceptive tactics. The Indian government aims to prioritize transparency, consumer empowerment, and trust within the marketplace, viewing such dishonest practices as infringements on consumers' rights and violations of companies' promises.
To ensure ongoing compliance, e-commerce companies are required to conduct annual internal audits, identifying and eliminating these dark patterns from their user interfaces. Subsequent audit reports must be sent to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), detailing the steps taken to remove the dark patterns and redesign interfaces to protect consumer autonomy. Additionally, a watchdog committee, composed of government representatives, digital platforms, and consumer rights organizations, will oversee compliance and routinely examine these audit results.
These measures highlight India's commitment to safeguarding consumers from manipulative online design strategies in the e-commerce sector. The penalties for non-compliance may lead to regulatory action from the CCPA. Major e-commerce enterprises have agreed "in principle" to align with these guidelines, committing to self-audits and proactive dark pattern elimination to prevent regulatory intervention.
- The formation of a joint working group will involve discussions with prominent e-commerce businesses such as Paytm, Swiggy, Zomato, IndiaMart, Thomas Cook, and others about adhering to guidelines that combat the use of 'dark patterns' in advertising and improve consumer trust.
- To maintain transparency and uphold consumer rights, e-commerce platforms, including providers of travel, technology, food, and business services, are expected to conduct annual internal audits to identify and eliminate 'dark patterns' in their user interfaces and submit reports to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA).
- The Indian government has emphasized its dedication to scrutinizing news surrounding deceptive online practices in the e-commerce industry, aiming to penalize offenders via regulatory action from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and ensure a responsible and trustworthy environment for food, travel, technology, business, and advertising businesses.
