Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, has issued a strong call to e-commerce platforms to eliminate dark patterns from their digital interfaces. Speaking at a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Minister emphasized that modern consumers are vigilant and intolerant of online deception.
The meeting brought together representatives from top e-commerce firms, industry associations, legal institutions, and consumer bodies to discuss the growing misuse of manipulative online design.
Guidelines demand full compliance and proactive audits
The Minister urged companies to comply fully with the Guidelines on Dark Patterns, developed after consultations with major stakeholders. He directed platforms to carry out regular internal audits to detect and remove deceptive design practices—before any regulatory action is taken.
He highlighted a rise in complaints about dark patterns on the National Consumer Helpline and stressed that compliance should be viewed not just as a regulatory obligation but a commitment to consumer trust.
Government tools and collaboration support enforcement
To support detection and enforcement, the Department has launched three new tools developed in partnership with IIT BHU: the Jagriti App, the Jago Grahak Jago App, and the Jagriti Dashboard. These platforms enable consumers to report violations, access real-time safety scores, and provide analytics for regulatory bodies.
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Secretary Nidhi Khare outlined the broader strategy to tackle dark patterns, stressing their harmful effects on consumer choice, privacy, and trust. She warned that the use of such deceptive designs breaches the safety pledges taken by companies on National Consumer Day 2024.
Industry engagement and India’s regulatory leadership
The meeting was attended by a wide array of firms including Amazon, Flipkart, Meta, Zomato, Paytm, Apple, Google, and others. Industry associations like CAIT, FICCI, and NASSCOM were also present.
Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra presented key insights from the department’s work, highlighting the formulation of the 2023 Guidelines that clearly define 13 recognized dark patterns. He emphasized that India remains the first country to issue such detailed guidance under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The session concluded with a collective commitment to uphold ethical standards in digital commerce. The Department pledged to continue supporting businesses in complying with the new norms while fostering transparency and fairness in the online marketplace.
